The NBA world is still reeling from Luka Doncic’s shock trade to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Nobody was expecting to see the Slovenian heading for California, with Anthony Davis on his way to the Dallas Mavericks.
That apparently includes LeBron James, who found out about the swap while having dinner with his family in New York and had no idea it was happening, per ESPN.
The 40-year-old is reportedly set on staying in Los Angeles after Tuesday’s deadline and has a no-trade clause in his contract.
But questions have been raised about LeBron’s compatibility with five-time All-Star Doncic, who at 25 years old, is now the future of the Lakers franchise.
Fiery First Take star Stephen A. Smith had a bold opinion that left Kendrick Perkins and Shannon Sharpe speechless.
“His son Bronny James is on the team, everybody’s been receptive to that, he’s established a quality of life for himself living here in Southern California that he doesn’t want to compromise in any way,” began Stephen A.
“But if we’re living in fantasy land, let’s live in fantasy land for a second, if I were him I’d waive my no-trade clause.
“I wouldn’t mind going to Golden State and playing with Steph Curry. Now Shannon and Big Perk, we all know I think Michael Jordan‘s the GOAT, I am open to discussions if LeBron wants to come to the Knicks.”
Stephen A. added that the Lakers have a lot of building to do and thinks the Mavericks are in a better position to win now despite losing Doncic.
“Neither of them really move a lot without the basketball,” Smith added on Get Up about LeBron and Luka. “That would not be the case with Steph Curry.
“Steph Curry moves without the ball. He’s the greatest shooter God ever created. You gotta keep your head on a swivel constantly.
“You got to get migraine medicine and all of this other stuff. You got to go and get Oxygen after the games because you got to chase Steph Curry around, OK? Because that’s how he moves without the ball.
“If I’m LeBron James, I sit there and waive my no-trade clause to try to get to Golden State. That would be my No. 1 option.
“It ain’t because of a basketball decision because the Lakers ain’t winning no championship as presently constructed. I can tell you that.”
Stephen A. thinks it could take some time for the dust to settle on the incredible move.
“I’m shocked, like the entire basketball world,” he said.
“It’s not something that you would have ever anticipated, primarily from the Dallas Mavericks. Luka Doncic is a global superstar, you know what he can bring to the table.
“When you look on the Anthony Davis side, this is a big time player, he’s an All-Star, one of the elite defensive players in the game of basketball.
“There’s a whole bunch of questions, a whole bunch of intrigue, and it’s a shocker. Maybe the biggest shocker of a trade that many of us have seen in NBA history.”
Mavericks super fan Patrick Mahomes even had his say ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“Yeah, it definitely hurts,” he said. “More than anything just knowing Luka and the work that he puts in, and the time that he’s put into Dallas and the city and how he’s done so much for it. I think that’s hurt me the most.
“But I’m excited for the future of the Mavs as well. Having [Anthony] Davis and [Kyrie] Irving and all those guys they have, they’ll have the chance to go out there and compete.
“But I’m excited for Luka, too, growing under LeBron James and becoming a better basketball player.”