The Utah Jazz had no idea that they were accomplices to arguably the biggest heist in NBA history.
When Luka Doncic was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline, the Jazz were the third team in the deal, but were not given details of what the trade was, they were just asked if they were willing to take two second round draft picks and former Lakers first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino back in the trade: they said yes.
Now, the Jazz general manager Justin Zanik says he would be having some buyer’s remorse if he knew he was aiding the Lakers into getting Doncic.
Utah Jazz GM Justin Zanik discussed the Luka Dončić trade, saying that while he didn't want to speak for his front office colleagues, they agreed with Los Angeles Lakers GM Rob Pelinka that it was a "gift." pic.twitter.com/uc9POqqKQG
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) February 13, 2025
“Rob Pelinka even said in his press conference introducing Luka that it was a ‘gift’ and I think that is how a lot of my colleagues — I don’t want to speak for them — but how we all kind of felt,” Zanik said on the broadcast of the Jazz-Lakers game on Wednesday.
“Obviously, it kind of re-shaped the Western Conference,” Zanik added. “When we are up there with those guys very soon, maybe I would care a little bit more about being the third team. At this point where we are, if we were in the playoffs right now I’d be asking both of them what is ‘Going on here’ and basically ‘I’m not doing it’ but where we are the ability to pick up stuff, basically for free, to do something that another team would have done anyway, that was really sweet.”
The Jazz are far from playoff contention as the 14th seed in the NBA with a 13-40 record, the third worst in the NBA.
Perhaps one day they can get there, but for now, they will have to deal with Doncic in Los Angeles next to LeBron James, who will teach him the ropes of how to be an NBA great.
In return the Mavericks got a taste of Anthony Davis but just for a single half as their new big man went down with an abductor injury that they are saying could sideline him for a month or more.
“Nico [Harrison] in Dallas, they do a great job,” Zanik declared on the broadcast. “They obviously had their reasons and wanting to improve the defense and got a top 15 player in their own right there, you know, they decided that was in their best interest.”
Mavericks fans have revolted since this trade happened, protesting inside and outside American Airlines Center.