SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee has strong reaction to Mavericks' trade of Luka Doncic

The Luka Doncic trade shook the whole sports world this weekend. And plenty of people across the sports landscape have taken some time to share their thoughts, feelings, and reactions. SMU head football coach Rhett Lashlee lives in Dallas and naturally, he’s become a fan of the Mavericks and Doncic over the years. He took some time on Sunday evening to share his thoughts on the blockbuster trade via his Twitter account.

I’m a ball coach & in the sports world, so I really try not to be critical of other coaches/sports leaders, for obvious reasons … but after almost 24 hours trying to figure out the reason to trade away a generational player … I’ve still got nothing. Feels WAY overthought.

I…

— Rhett Lashlee (@rhettlashlee) February 3, 2025

“I’m a ball coach & in the sports world, so I really try not to be critical of other coaches/sports leaders, for obvious reasons…but after almost 24 hours trying to figure out the reason to trade away a generational player..I’ve still got nothing. Feels WAY overthought,” Lashlee tweeted.

“I sure hope it works out for everyone, but sure hate it for our city to lose such an icon who embraced Dallas,” Lashlee finished on Sunday.

More details on the Luka Doncic trade

The Dallas Mavericks are trading Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania on early Sunday morning (after midnight).

The three-team deal includes the LA Lakers, the Dallas Mavericks, and the Utah Jazz. The Jazz will get Jalen Hood-Schifino, a 2025 second round pick via the LA Clippers, and a 2025 second round pick via the Dallas Mavericks.

It’ll go down as one of the more shocking and surprising trades in league history, no doubt about it. From the sounds of it, all of the parties involved in the trade were surprised by it, too.

The biggest piece of the trade is unquestionably Luka Doncic, who has been without a doubt, one of the best players in the NBA for several years now. He’s been averaging 28.1 points per game, 8.3 rebounds per game, and 7.8 assists per game, while drilling 35.4% percent of his shots from beyond-the-arc. He’s also hitting 46.4% of his shots from the field.

He’s been dealing with a left calf strain this season, receiving multiple opinions on the injury in late December before the Mavericks made any decisions about his timeline to return. He was ruled out of Dallas’ Christmas Day game shortly after he went to the locker room with the injury and was seen on crutches after the game. He has not played at all for the Mavericks since Christmas.

Last season, Doncic and Kyrie Irving propelled the Mavericks to their third NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, where they lost to the Boston Celtics. Doncic also earned Western Conference Finals MVP honors in the process.