Three weeks ago, Luka Dončić officially became a Los Angeles Laker in what is now considered the most shocking trade in NBA history. As the Dallas Mavericks sent away their franchise cornerstone, the 25-year-old superstar is set to face his former team for the first time on Tuesday. This highly anticipated “revenge game” is sure to be electric. Our analysts break down the impact of this blockbuster trade on both the Lakers and Mavericks, along with predictions for Dončić’s performance in this must-watch matchup.
1. How would you rate Luka’s first three weeks as a Laker (scale of 1-10)?
Vincent Goodwill: 8
The trade and Dallas’ reasoning behind it didn’t exactly paint Dončić in the best light, even if their justification made sense. It wasn’t until Saturday night against Denver that we saw a true “Luka game.” However, he has received a warm welcome in L.A., being introduced last to roaring cheers, and his chemistry with LeBron James is showing promise. The QB-to-WR moments have been there, but then he was hunted on defense by the Charlotte Hornets… so, an 8.
Dan Devine: 7.5
Interestingly, that’s also the Lakers’ win percentage since the trade—six wins in eight games. However, three of those wins came while Dončić was still recovering from a calf strain, and one was when he rested on a back-to-back. A 3-2 record, with losses to Utah and Charlotte, isn’t exactly a dream start. But what Luka did against Denver, a team that has dominated the Lakers for four years, suggests much bigger things ahead.
Players like Dončić don’t grow on trees. Even with some rust after missing 22 games, the Lakers have outscored opponents by 12.1 points per 100 possessions since his arrival. This offers a tantalizing glimpse of what a LeBron-Luka partnership could become—both in the future and in their pursuit of a deep playoff run this season.
Tom Haberstroh: 6
Even Dončić himself would probably admit that he hasn’t been at his best for most of his brief Lakers tenure. Before the Denver breakout, he had almost as many fouls and turnovers as made shots and assists. Some rust was expected given the injury and new environment, but Dončić has set such a high bar for himself that we expect brilliance every night.
Morten Stig Jensen: 7
Strictly based on the stats and efficiency, he gets a 7. But context matters. He came in after a long injury layoff and is still working his way back to full form. While Mavericks GM Nico Harrison might laugh at the word “form,” Dončić’s 32-10-7 performance against Denver was enough to make me believe it won’t take long.
2. Who has benefited the most from the Luka trade?
Dan Devine: LeBron James
Let’s not overcomplicate this—LeBron has been the biggest winner. His scoring efficiency has skyrocketed since playing alongside another elite playmaker: 65 points in 80 minutes with Dončić, with 60% of his baskets coming off an assist (eight from Luka). His time of possession, seconds per touch, and dribbles per touch have all decreased, yet his true shooting percentage has jumped by 10 percentage points.
With all due respect to Kyrie Irving—who, let’s be real, has also benefited by becoming the undisputed No. 1 option in Dallas ahead of his next contract—LeBron hasn’t had a co-star this capable of easing his offensive burden since… 2011 Dwyane Wade? Those Miami teams turned out pretty well. This Lakers squad just might, too.
Tom Haberstroh: Rob Pelinka
The Lakers’ GM should have a statue built for him—preferably sitting at a coffee shop in a half-unzipped leather jacket. He should never have to buy coffee in Los Angeles again.
Morten Stig Jensen: The Lakers as a whole
Even though we’re only a few games in, the impact of Luka’s presence is already noticeable. The team’s wings and bigs—especially Jaxson Hayes—are benefiting from the added spacing and playmaking. If Luka stays healthy, we’re going to see major improvements across the board.
Vincent Goodwill: JJ Redick
When Redick took the job, his coaching future was entirely dependent on LeBron’s health and whims. Now, things have changed. The Lakers have a post-LeBron plan. It’s clear Redick views Luka as a massive upgrade over Anthony Davis—there was that moment when he told himself to “stop” and focus while looking at Luka on the bench. He was practically starstruck thinking about what this team could become. But at least now, he has a future and something to be excited about in the present.
3. The Lakers are ________?
Tom Haberstroh: Exceptional
They always find a way to land generational superstars. Dončić, LeBron, AD, Shaq, Kobe, Pau, Kareem, Wilt—none of them were originally drafted by the Lakers, yet all ended up in the purple and gold at their peak. If there’s an exception to how NBA teams build, it’s the Lakers.
Dan Devine: Relevant again
Before the trade, the Lakers were barely outscoring opponents on the season and looked uninspiring on both ends. Their only hope for contention was praying LeBron and AD stayed healthy, hoping the playoff bracket broke in their favor, and crossing their fingers that someone took out Nikola Jokić before they had to face him.
Now? The Lakers can simply throw LeBron and Luka at you and let you figure it out. They won’t be favorites in a Western Conference dominated by a historically great Thunder team, but no one will want to see them in April.
Vincent Goodwill: Intriguing
Not just for this season—I thought they might take a step back in the short term, and I was wrong—but for their future. The Lakers have always been searching for their next star, and now they’ve found him. If they can extend this team’s shelf life, they might just scare some people in the playoffs while figuring out what’s next.
4. The Mavericks are ______?
Morten Stig Jensen: Still wrong for making the trade?
Look, I get it—Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson sound great… if this were 2015. But in 2025? Davis is already injured, and Thompson looks every bit like a 35-year-old who suffered back-to-back ACL and Achilles injuries. The Mavericks would have to win a title for this trade to make sense, and that seems… optimistic.
Vincent Goodwill: Snake-bitten
If you hate the trade, you can at least see why Nico Harrison thought it could work. Pairing AD with Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford could have made Dallas a defensive nightmare. But with all three dealing with injuries, we haven’t seen that vision come to life.
Tom Haberstroh: Lottery-bound
Missing the playoffs after reaching the NBA Finals and trading away the face of the franchise would be devastating. The Warriors and Timberwolves are trending up, while Dallas is dealing with injuries and a tough schedule. Unless something changes, they could be in serious trouble.
5. Prediction: What will Luka do against the Mavericks?
Vincent Goodwill: 32 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists
The real revenge will come when he returns to Dallas, but for now, expect the Lakers to feed him plenty of opportunities to shine.
Morten Stig Jensen: 50 points or a total brickfest
There’s no middle ground here. Either he drops 50, or he forces too much and struggles.
Dan Devine: 36 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists
Dallas ranks 26th in defense since the trade. That’s bad news against a fired-up Dončić.
Tom Haberstroh: 31 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists
That’s his career playoff average—historically unmatched—and this game will feel like a playoff battle.