SAN FRANCISCO – It has been two weeks since Luka Doncic was traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis in one of the most surprising and shocking trades in NBA history. On the eve of the NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco, many NBA All-Stars were asked about the trade and where it leaves the Lakers and Mavericks as both try to compete for a championship over the second half of the season.
VICTOR WEMBANYAMA: I've watched games of both the Lakers and Mavs ever since it happened. But what I remember from it, what really strikes me, is how the Mavs' fans are hurting, how they feel. It's really something that I think was a really strong emotion. But otherwise, I think the Mavs are still contenders. The Lakers are contenders. It's very competitive. They traded for very good players. It's interesting. We'll see how it goes. But in two weeks after, it's still the craziest trade I've ever seen.
NIKOLA JOKIC: I kind of think both teams win. I think maybe in my opinion, of course, maybe I think Luka is a generational player, generational talent. I'm not saying that AD is not. I'm just saying that Luka is somebody that did we see someone like this before, who is affecting the game on so many levels, so many possessions. He was building something there. I think he was hurt, and just -- but I think it's good because then people and players are going to take more serious. I think a trade is not such a big thing, but if you trade someone like that, I think it becomes a little bit of a big thing, and maybe players become a little bit serious about it.
JAREN JACKSON JR.: Yeah, I watched their games for sure. They're still getting used to their players that they've traded for. You can see that there will probably be some chemistry there with AD in Dallas and those guys. He got like an alley-oop, first play, he was throwing one to Dan [Gafford]. Obviously, everyone thought the trade was fake. Everyone did. I just was double checking to make sure it was real, checking the accounts, stuff like that. Especially if you have group chats, like it's getting sent in there. But no, I watched the Lakers play, too. They're moving the ball well. It's definitely too early to tell, sample size, but it's two great players getting traded for each other. It's very rare.
ANTHONY EDWARDS: I think it was interesting, man. It made it fun again because I think we play the Lakers again one more time, so it should be fun.
KEVIN DURANT: I think LeBron is kind of secure in his game and what he brings to the table. That makes him a great teammate and that allows him to welcome guys with open arms when they come to his team. He don't got to feel like he don't have to do too much to make guys comfortable. He just plays his game. He fits in with anybody. When you've got guys that can play off any player, smart and experienced like that, it'll work. When you've got talented, high-IQ guys, it'll take some time obviously to work out the kinks, but in the long run I think they'll be pretty sweet together.
STEPHEN CURRY: I think the biggest -- well, we've all learned recently how quickly things can change in this league, some of the unexpected happening. The patience or like assessing where your team is and what can actually make you better, how far that gap is, that's why there's GMs and player personnel groups and advanced analytics and all that, because from a player's perspective, we obviously know the game, see the game, feel the game and have a certain opinion about how you can be competitive.
But that's why everybody gets paid to do their job. Every team is trying to figure out how to make the necessary moves to -- if your goal is to win a championship, to do that. Obviously ours, and like you said, the Lakers and plenty of other teams are trying to do that on a daily basis.
For us as players, you just do your job and make sure you're staying prepared and healthy and available and handling our business. But that's why there are folks upstairs that are relied on to make those tough decisions and try to do their job the best they can.