In the days following the Mavericks’ shocking trade of Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers, many have criticized Dallas’ decision to part with their 25-year-old superstar unexpectedly. However, during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up on Monday morning, Charles Barkley not only defended the stunning trade but also declared the Mavericks the winner of the deal in the short term.
Barkley’s remarks came as he responded to a question about Dallas general manager Nico Harrison’s press conference after the trade. Instead of scrutinizing Harrison’s defense of the seemingly indefensible move, the Hall of Fame power forward praised him for addressing the trade directly. “A lot of general managers, when they make trades, they put out statements or they don’t go right to the press conference,” Barkley noted. “I want to give Nico his flowers for standing up, saying what he had to say — he stood on business.”
The Inside the NBA star further commented that the fallout from the trade would likely be “one of the best reality TV shows probably in the history of sports.” He highlighted that unlike most NBA trades, this rare deal includes two established stars, with the Mavericks acquiring 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis in return. “Something that’s really intriguing — normally you trade a great player, you get a bunch of junk in return. The Mavs got the great Anthony Davis,” Barkley stated. “So Luka’s great. Anthony Davis is great. This will be one of the most fascinating stories — and it’s going to be fascinating probably for the next 10 years. The Mavs won the trade for the next three or four years. But the Lakers have a bright future if they surround Luka with the right pieces.”
Charles Barkley on Mavericks GM Nico Harrison: “I want to give Nico his flowers for standing up, saying what he had to say — he stood on business… this is going to be one of the best reality TV shows probably in the history of sports… the Mavs won the trade for the immediate… pic.twitter.com/KCfrB16xSf
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 3, 2025
While there’s a strong argument to be made about who won the trade in the short term — given that Dončić is widely regarded as the better current player — Barkley’s larger point is that this deal isn’t as one-sided as many perceive. Was the trade shocking? Absolutely. Even Shams Charania mentioned he thought his phone had been hacked when the news broke. However, the Mavericks didn’t walk away empty-handed; they secured a top-75 all-time player who’s still in his relative prime. By Barkley’s own admission, only time will tell how this deal ultimately ages. For now, unlike most, the 1993 NBA MVP appears to be keeping an open mind.
