The Los Angeles Lakers have come to an agreement to trade for Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in a major three-team deal, which also sends Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round draft pick to Dallas. This surprising trade additionally involves the Utah Jazz, according to a source close to the situation who spoke to YSL News Sports on the condition of anonymity, as they were not permitted to discuss the trade publicly until it is finalized.

In this trade, the Lakers are also set to acquire Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. Meanwhile, the Jazz will receive Jalen Hood-Schifino along with a second-round pick from the Lakers and another second-round pick from the Mavericks for the year 2025.

This shocking news followed shortly after the Lakers’ victory over the New York Knicks, with a score of 128-112 on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, where LeBron James posted an impressive triple-double with 33 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds.

This trade marks a significant change in the Western Conference, which was dominated by Dallas last season.

LeBron James was unaware of the impending trade and found out about it while dining in New York after the game, as reported by a source familiar with the circumstances. James and Davis are good friends and share the same agent, Rich Paul, who is the CEO of Klutch Sports.

Currently, Anthony Davis, a 10-time All-Star, is out due to an abdominal strain, while the 25-year-old Luka Doncic, a five-time All-Star, has been sidelined since Christmas with a strained left calf. Both players are expected to return to action this month.

ESPN was the first to reveal details of this trade, which comes right before the February 6 trade deadline.

The Lakers are acquiring one of the league’s brightest young talents, just as Doncic is entering his peak years. Last season, Doncic finished third in the MVP voting and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, where they faced defeat against Boston in a five-game series. Prior to his calf injury on Christmas, Doncic was averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game while shooting 46.4% overall and 35.4% from beyond the arc this season.

Doncic, known for his exceptional offensive abilities, will enhance the Lakers’ scoring options alongside James, fitting seamlessly into Coach JJ Redick’s offensive strategies. He also represents a new face for the franchise, especially for when the 40-year-old James decides to step away from the game.

On the other hand, Davis will bring his All-NBA caliber skills to Dallas, where he contributes an impressive 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.2 steals in the 2024-25 season. He will be joining a strong roster that includes Kyrie Irving and six other players who also average at least 10 points each, such as Klay Thompson.

Before the 2023-24 season commenced, Davis signed a three-year contract extension and is bound to his deal through 2027-28 at a total of $175.3 million. However, he does have a player option for the 2027-28 season, which would allow him to enter free agency in the summer of 2027.

In contrast, Doncic inked a five-year, $215.1 million deal with the Mavericks in 2022 and is under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season, with the possibility of entering free agency in the summer of 2026. He is also eligible for a contract extension this upcoming summer.

The Lakers currently hold a record of 28-19, placing them fifth in the Western Conference, just one game shy of the Denver Nuggets. Meanwhile, Dallas’s record stands at 26-23, placing them ninth in the West, only 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Clippers, who sit in sixth place.

This story has been updated with new information.