Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves said he initially dismissed news of the franchise’s stunning February trade that sent Anthony Davis and Max Christie to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic.
Speaking on “The Young Man and The Three” podcast, Reaves detailed how he learned of the deal moments after the Lakers’ 15-point win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
“They traded me” text sparks confusion
Reaves said the team was riding the bus back to its hotel when the players’ group chat “started going crazy.” Davis, who had missed the game, posted, “They traded me.”
“If anybody knows AD, he jokes around a lot,” Reaves told host JJ Redick. “So I laughed and put my phone down.”
The guard reconsidered after his phone continued buzzing. Upon checking Instagram, he saw NBA insider Shams Charania reporting the deal. Calls to his agents and assistant coach Beau Levesque confirmed the move was real; Levesque was sitting next to Christie when the news broke.
Shock turns to excitement
Reaves admitted the trade hit hard because of his four-year relationship with Davis and three-year bond with Christie. “I was obviously hurt at the time,” he said, but added that acquiring a “generational” 26-year-old in Doncic was an opportunity the organization could not ignore.
The surprise inside the locker room mirrored the reaction of fans across the league, as few anticipated Dallas parting with a star who had just led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals.
Contract decision still pending
Reaves also addressed his offseason choice to decline a contract extension, emphasizing he still hopes to remain with the Lakers long term.
The guard has since adjusted to sharing the backcourt with Doncic as Los Angeles attempts to build on last season’s momentum.
Source: LakersNation.com
