Inside Story of Lakers Trading Davis: Dissatisfied with Lackluster Training and Declining Professionalism, Secret Talks with at Least Five Teams

On November 15th Beijing Time, reporter Siegel’s detailed article uncovered more behind the Lakers’ choice to trade Davis. The All-Star’s injuries and physical condition worried the Lakers, but their greater frustration was his deteriorating work ethic and lackluster training. Prior to finalizing the trade sending Davis for Doncic, the Lakers held confidential talks with five teams, among them the Celtics. Here are the key points from the report—

In early February 2025, the Mavericks and Lakers completed a trade that could rewrite NBA history — swapping Doncic and Davis between the two franchises. This deal was unimaginable at the start of the season: the Mavericks parting with their cornerstone Doncic was baffling, and the Lakers trading away Davis, who helped them win a championship, was equally shocking. Yet, every bold trade has its reasons, and the cracks in the Davis-Lakers partnership had long been planted.

In 2019, Davis requested a trade from the Pelicans to join the Lakers, teaming up with LeBron James to chase a championship. In 2020, they achieved their goal by winning the title, and the Lakers’ future looked very promising. The bond between James and Davis extended beyond the court, deepened by their shared agent Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports agency, which also maintained close ties with the Lakers’ management. However, beneath the championship glory, Davis’ injury risks quietly became a looming concern.

From the 2019-20 season until his trade in 2025, Davis played in only 71.5% of the Lakers’ games, surpassing 60 games in just two of five and a half seasons. After the 2020 championship, he missed many games due to calf strains, MCL sprains, and other injuries, increasing internal worries about his physical management. What frustrated the management even more was Davis’ evident decline in professionalism: poor communication with the team during the offseason, “well below average” fitness before the 2024-25 training camp, a lackluster attitude during preseason workouts, a stark contrast to his early Lakers days of “arriving early, leaving late, and striving for excellence.”

The conflict deepened around roster construction. During the 2024 offseason, Davis and his team explicitly requested the Lakers to acquire a center to reduce his time playing the five-position and protect his health. However, the Lakers preferred to preserve assets and salary cap space, prioritizing developing Reeves as the third core, and responded passively to Davis’ demands. This disagreement kept tensions high, even fracturing the once close relationship between the Lakers and Klutch Sports.

In December 2024, the Lakers began quietly reaching out to league teams to gauge Davis’ trade value. Although they initially had no immediate plans to trade, uncertainties over LeBron James possibly opting out of his contract and doubts about Davis’ ability to become the team’s core led management to seriously consider a trade during the offseason. The Celtics, Bucks, Cavaliers, and at least two other teams engaged in talks with the Lakers, with the Celtics responding, “We’ll keep it in mind,” indicating potential interest.

This information was noticed by Mavericks executive Harrison. Having a good relationship with Lakers’ GM Pelinka and a strong liking for Davis, Harrison immediately initiated secret talks. The Mavericks’ lack of obsession with keeping Doncic opened a window for the trade—while the Lakers had long targeted Doncic for the future, they never expected to actually acquire him. The negotiations were limited to core executives; even Davis and Rich Paul were kept in the dark.

At the end of January 2025, Davis publicly called for the team to bring in a center during an ESPN interview, implying the Lakers were not creating the same conditions for him as during the 2020 championship run. This statement became the “final straw,” infuriating the Lakers’ management completely. By then, Pelinka and Harrison’s talks were nearly finalized, with the Jazz joining as a third party to complete salary matching, sealing the deal. When the news broke, it shocked the entire internet, with many initially thinking it was fake news.

Nine months after the trade, the two teams’ fortunes diverged drastically. Doncic signed a three-year, $165 million extension with the Lakers, becoming the new team leader. Alongside Reeves, he helped the Lakers achieve an 8-4 record, placing them near the top of the Western Conference, even with LeBron sidelined. Meanwhile, the Mavericks’ outlook was bleak: Davis has been out since September 29 due to a left calf injury, and after firing Harrison, the team managed only a 3-9 record, nearing collapse.

The Mavericks’ rebuilding focus is now on 2025 top pick Flagg, with most other players potentially on the trade block. Irving needs to rest until 2026, Thompson is expected to be traded, and Davis’ future remains uncertain. Although Dumont maintains communication with Rich Paul, Davis’ health risks and massive contract deter potential buyers. Teams like the Bulls, Celtics, and Warriors have shown some interest but all have reservations, making a trade difficult to finalize.

Currently, the Mavericks are repeating the Lakers’ previous strategy—testing the market interest in Davis. When he returns and whether he can lead the team’s resurgence will directly influence his fate. The ripple effects of this blockbuster trade continue to unfold, not only reshaping the futures of both teams but also introducing new variables to the league’s landscape.