How the Lakers-Mavericks blockbuster trade affects the Celtics
It won't be easy, but Boston is more equipped to handle the LeBron James and Luka Doncic duo than most.
In one of the more shocking NBA trades in recent memory, Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis officially swapped teams Sunday morning.
Lakers receive: Doncic, Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris
Mavericks receive: Davis, Max Christie, 2029 first-round pick
Jazz receive: Jalen Hood-Schifino, 2025 second-round pick from Lakers, 2025 second-round pick from Dallas
While the move will obviously have a more direct effect on the Western Conference, it does change the picture for the Celtics as well.
Here’s a closer look:
Celtics vs. Lakers
Kyrie Irving was always going to be enemy No. 1, but Doncic emerged as a strong No. 2 villain for Celtics fans in the NBA Finals.
While Doncic averaged 29.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in the series, he shot just 24.4 percent from 3-point range and was a liability defensively.
Doncic is, without question, one of the most talented offensive players in the league, and he’s also about to enter his prime. At the same time, the Celtics are more equipped to keep him in check than most and exploit him at the other end.
While LeBron James and Doncic form a highly versatile duo, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and the rest of the Celtics will gladly embrace the challenge. It may come down to whether the Lakers role players can consistently hit open shots.
With Davis gone, the Lakers are far less threatening at center, which should open up even more opportunities for Kristaps Porzingis.
Celtics vs. Mavericks
Doncic is the better all-around player at this point in their careers, and his offensive brilliance will certainly be missed. At the same time, one could argue that the Mavericks now match up better with the Celtics than they did before.
While Boston would likely still have an edge in a potential rematch, Davis adds a level of rim protection and interior scoring Dallas lacked last year.
The consensus around the league is that the Lakers won the trade, but from a Celtics perspective, the Mavericks have another layer they didn’t have in the Finals. A lot of responsibility will fall on Porzingis and Al Horford to keep Davis, Dereck Lively II, and Daniel Gafford in check.
With Doncic gone, it’s now Irving’s show. Defending an Irving-Davis pick and roll will be the top priority. Dallas will undoubtedly miss Doncic’s playmaking, but don’t count the Mavericks out just because they lost their alpha.
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