Luka Doncic was traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers on Saturday night for Anthony Davis in a shocking blockbuster deal that dramatically altered NBA title odds at sportsbooks.
Westgate SuperBook NBA oddsmaker Jeff Sherman lowered the Lakers’ odds to win the championship this season from 50-1 to 20-1, while bumping up Dallas’ odds from 20-1 to 30-1.
When Sherman first saw a post on X by ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting the trade, he didn’t believe it.
“I thought there was a hack going on,” Sherman said. “I didn’t even close the futures or do anything until I saw more sources because I didn’t think it was real.”
After adjusting the futures odds and taking a bevy of bets on Los Angeles to win it all, Sherman, a lifelong Lakers fan, was still stunned Sunday morning.
“I’m still trying to grasp this because it doesn’t seem real,” he said.
The Lakers received Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris in the three-team trade. The Mavericks acquired Davis, Max Christie and Los Angeles’ 2029 first-round pick.
The Jazz received Jalen Hood-Schifino, the Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick and the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round selection.
“The Lakers, I don’t think they’re done yet. I think they’re going to make another move by the trade deadline on Thursday. That’s why I’m down to 20-1 because I think there’s more to come,” Sherman said. “But if they were to not do anything and have this team out there, I don’t think this team is a title-winning team this year. They don’t have any size down low and their defense now is going to be hurt a lot with losing AD. Doncic is not a defensive player.
“But obviously I know why the Lakers did this, because it sets them up for the next 10 years. It’s just puzzling how the Mavericks can move on from a 25-year-old generational talent like that.”
Doncic has scored 28.6 points per game in his NBA career. That ranks third all-time among players who have appeared in at least 400 games, behind only Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain (both 30.1).
Doncic and new teammate LeBron James are two of the only three players in NBA history who average more than 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per game. The other is Oscar Robertson.
The deal marks the first time two reigning All-NBA players have been traded for each other midseason. Doncic was named to the All-NBA first team last season, when he led Dallas to the NBA Finals. Davis, 31, was named All-NBA second team last season.
The Lakers ascended from the 14th favorite to win the 2025 NBA title to the sixth. They now trail only the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder, the +225 co-favorites at the Westgate to win it all, the Cleveland Cavaliers (7-1), New York Knicks (12-1) and Denver Nuggets (16-1).
“If they end up making another move and trading and getting a center and playing for this year, you’ll see them go down again,” Sherman said. “But if they make no moves, I can sit at 20-1 or even raise them up and people will be inclined to wager on them. They’ve been playing them pretty steady at 20-1 so far.”
Contact reporter Todd Dewey at [email protected]. Follow @tdewey33 on X.
