Luka Doncic has arrived in Los Angeles and is ready to start his new chapter with the Lakers. His arrival comes off the heels of one of the most surprising trades in NBA history. The Mavericks sent him to L.A. in exchange for Anthony Davis.
The move came out of nowhere and still has some people scratching their heads. There are talks around why it happened, and some of the things that have come up include conditioning and a supermax deal.
Tim MacMahon backed those claims as he reported that the Mavs had concerns about moving forward with the 25-year-old star because of the conditioning and the looming commitment of another extension this summer.
Another thing MacMahon and Ramona Shelburne noted around the claims is that Dallas gave Doncic an 11-day excused absence in late November to shed weight after it changed significantly.
“This season, he missed 27 games, including the past six weeks since straining his left calf for the fourth time in three years,” Shelburne and MacMahon began. “He gained weight while he was out, which frustrated team officials, sources said. The primary reasoning for an 11-day absence in late November, officially attributed to a right wrist sprain, was to provide Dončić time to shed weight after he had ballooned into the high 260s.”
While 11 days may not appear extensive on the surface, the Mavericks played five games in late November where Doncic was ruled out.
These conversations around Doncic’s weight are nothing new, but the Mavericks became more concerned somewhere down the line. Now, the Lakers and the Mavericks have fresh starts as they are bringing in multi-time All-Stars.
The Lakers have gained one of the top offensive players in the NBA. His ability to score and facilitate makes him a consistent MVP candidate. Los Angeles does not share the same concerns as Dallas, and as a team looking to win before LeBron James retires, Doncic is the way to go.
MORE MAVS NEWS: NBA Insider reveals how front offices feel about Mavericks exclusively contacting Lakers about Luka Doncic
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