The sports world changed overnight when ESPN’s Shams Charania dropped the biggest trades to start 2025. The trades involved stars like Luka Dončić, Anthony Davis, Jewell Loyd and Kelsey Plum. The NBA and WNBA seasons are in for exciting changes.
WNBA:
The first rearrangement of players began after a quiet first week of their free agency. Las Vegas Aces 2022 and 2023 champion and shooting guard Kelsey Plum, who was the number one pick in the 2017 draft is headed to the Los Angeles Sparks, who are in need of a reliable scorer this upcoming season.
In Nov. 2024, shooting guard and 1st overall pick in the 2015 draft Jewell Loyd alleged player mistreatment by Seattle Storm staff. For the 2025 season, Loyd requested a trade and landed in place of Kelsey Plum in Las Vegas. She will play alongside A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young, making the Aces a strong candidate for a championship ring next season.
The Storm received forward Li Yueru from the Sparks and the number two pick in the upcoming draft who is predicted to be Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles. Storm guards such as Nika Mühl and Skylar Diggins-Smith are looking to conquer the league and bring home a 5th championship without Jewell Loyd.
NBA:
On Feb. 1, one of the most significant and shocking trades in NBA history was announced. The trade involved two teams: the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks.
The Lakers received Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the 2029 first-round pick.
The Mavericks fanbase expressed discontent with the trade. According to Complex, Nico Harrison, the Mavericks’ general manager, has received backlash and numerous death threats for giving away Dallas’ beloved superstar, with fans crossing the line from upset to obsessed when their concerns became harassment.
Dončić and Davis possess different skill sets, both valuable, but the difference between Davis’ and Dončić’s age is a key determinant in which team got the better deal. Davis holds more experience than Dončić with 12 NBA seasons at 32 years old, while the 6’6” ex-Maverick has played for only half of Davis’ career.
This trade raised the question of how Dončić will perform on a new team, and the answer is clear.
According to Sports Illustrated, the Lakers went 9-5 in their first 14 games, with Dončić averaging 26.6 points a game. In contrast, ESPN reported Davis played a single Mavericks game before straining his left adductor, now having to face the bench. Davis debuted with a respectable 26 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks, but his proneness to injury as a result of his age leaves the Mavericks in an unfortunate position for the rest of the season.