Puka Nacua reacted like all of us to what looks like the most shocking trade in NBA history
Luka Doncic is going to be a Los Angeles Laker, and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua can't believe it. While the country was trying to decipher if ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania was hacked, Nacua posted his reaction to the absolute bombshell on X/Twitter. It may've been confirmed after midnight on the east […]
Luka Doncic is going to be a Los Angeles Laker, and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua can't believe it.
While the country was trying to decipher if ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania was hacked, Nacua posted his reaction to the absolute bombshell on X/Twitter.
It may've been confirmed after midnight on the east coast, but it was not a dream. Doncic, still just 25 years old with five consecutive All-NBA honors to his name, was traded for 31-year old Anthony Davis, a 2029 first-round pick, and Max Christie. The Lakers are also getting Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris along with Doncic.
To call it a shocking trade is underselling it to say the least because, as one would expect, the consensus can't quite comprehend what the Mavericks are thinking. It's always dangerous to be a prisoner of the moment, but this kind of trade has an unprecedented feeling to it.
The initial reporting from Dallas' perspective is there was doubt about Doncic being worth the five-year, $345 million contract he was in line to sign with the team this summer. The deal would've been the largest in NBA history. General manager Nico Harrison also cited Davis' defensive prowess a major factor towards making the trade.
“I believe that defense wins championships,” Harrison told ESPN following the trade. “I believe that getting an All-Defensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance. We’re built to win now and in the future.”
Well, if the Mavs didn't want to build around Doncic, the Lakers will pair him with the 40-year old LeBron James who just posted a 33-11-12 triple double against the New York Knicks in a game without Davis playing.
Nacua is a couple years younger than Doncic, but is already shining in the City of Angels. The former fifth-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft posted 79 receptions for 990 yards in just 11 games this past season. He's averaging 6.6 receptions per game and 88.4 yards per game in 28 career games in L.A.
Now he'll get to watch Doncic play 10 miles northeast of Sofi Stadium. Crazy times in the Association.
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