Lakers owner Jeannie Bass has not refrained from how Luka Donsic pulled out its arguably the biggest NBA deal with Dallas last month.
During an interview with NPR's Morning Edition” On Monday, Bass recalled Anthony Davis traded the big man for the Mavericks after he was unhappy with his role in Los Angeles.
“Anthony Davis was complaining about where he was playing, but he wasn't happy,” Bass said. “So I think this was positive for both teams. They got what they were looking for. We got what we were looking for. And while I didn't realize it would be international news as it was, it's the power of the Laker brand and the ability to draw big names that want to write their own chapters in Laker history.”
Bus explained that the Lakers needed a new piece after losing to the Nuggets in the playoffs for the past three years.
“We're happy to have him,” she said. “We've been in the playoffs for the Denver Nuggets for the past three years in a row, but nothing has appeared to be in the playoffs again.”
The exterior of “Rich Eisen Show” Last week, Bass said, “When the opportunity was born, I had no intention of moving Anthony Davis.”
Along with Doncic, Mavericks traded Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris for Los Angeles in a three-team deal with Davis, Max Christie and three-team deal.
Utah received the 2025 second round pick, Jalen Hood-Schifino, via the Clippers and Mavericks' 2025 second round pick.
Bus also said he would take pages from his father Jerry Bass' book and quietly pull out seasonal deals.
“You know, I learned from my dad. [Basketball Hall of Famer] Pau Gasol – People didn't hear about it,” Bass told NPR in 2008 about the blockbuster deal.[Spurs coach] With Greg Popovich from San Antonio [former Mavericks owner] Dallas' Mark Cuban threw a fit that we finished with Pow. They never got the chance to bid him or perhaps speak to Memphis from trading him for us.
“You understand that in our business, many rumors are planted by people in the industry who are trying to curry favors with the media. This “write good things about me as a general manager” and I will give you my inside information. Then we both win. ”
“In this particular case, I felt if I heard about the deal through rumors that there would be many political parties trying to undermine it. When Pogasol came from Memphis to LA, we won two championships for that.”
Donsic and Davis said they were shocked by the trade that has swayed the NBA world to its core on February 1.
During an interview with Los Angeles TimesDavis recalls reaching out to LeBron James (his longest-tailed Lakers teammate) on FaceTime to gain insight into the deal, as he didn't believe he “no one knew” in the Lakers organization.
“The front office has to do what they have to do and obviously they're going to do the best for the organization. So I'm not sure if I've ever gotten a 'real' about it,” Davis said. “I don't know what's true or what's not. So I'm going to go to my counterpart. [James] I saw who I was running with and what was going on, and got his response, and that was it. We had a conversation. That's all.
“Everyone says no one knew. I don't believe it. But hey guy, I'm past it. I'm ready to move forward with Dallas. Try winning the championship with these guys. First, get back to the floor and get ready to compete. All the emotions continued that night when it was just a shock.”
The Lakers praised Davis for helping to bring the franchise championship with James in the 2020 NBA season – A tribute video during LA's 107-99 victory with the Mavericks last Tuesday.
Davis scored 26 points and 16 rebounds before suffering adduct injuries in his Mavericks debut, a 116-105 victory over the Rockets on February 8th.
