Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) laughs with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Late Saturday night, ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania broke the news that the Dallas Mavericks were sending 2024 NBA scoring champion Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a three-team deal. In return, they would receive Anthony Davis.

The Lakers will receive Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks while Dallas will receive Davis, Max Christie, and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick. The Utah Jazz, who were also included in the deal, will receive Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Los Angeles Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick, and the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round pick.

Charania added that it was the Mavericks who reached out to the Lakers about the potential trade. Meanwhile, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that Dallas had “major concerns” about Dončić over his conditioning and the impending supermax contract extension they’d have to sign him to this offseason. 

News of the trade sent shockwaves through the sports world. Initially, many thought the initial post was fake or that Charania had been hacked. ESPN’s SportsCenter even noted that this was not the case.

Many pundits wondered why the Mavs would part with the five-time All-Star in the prime of his career for so little in return. Meanwhile, many Dallas fans are in a state of shock. Among them is Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Texas native is a big Mavs fan, so when he saw the news, he immediately took to social media to voice his bewilderment.

After initially writing “What what?” the three-time Super Bowl-winning QB said that he was “sick” over the news.

Unfortunately for Mahomes, the odds are not great that Davis, who is notably injury-prone, will be able to assuage Dallas’s conditioning concerns.

At least Mahomes can comfort himself by potentially winning his fourth NFL championship on Sunday and third in a row.

About Sean Keeley

Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Editorial Strategy Director for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.