That was the logic behind a trade proposal from ESPN's Tim McMahon on the Friday, May 2 edition of the "Brian Windhorst & the Hoop Collective" podcast, when McMahon suggested the Lakers pursue a second consecutive deal with the Dallas Mavericks after trading Anthony Davis for Doncic back in February.

What was meant to be a championship dream turned into an early playoff nightmare. The Lakers’ bold mid-season move to bring Luka Doncic to Los Angeles ended in a stunning first-round exit, leaving fans and analysts asking: what went wrong?

Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images