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You know a trade is shocking when it completely stuns the internet — including players and reporters.
Multiple NBA players and insiders were taken aback when ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania broke the news early Sunday that the Mavericks had traded Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick. Many initially thought Charania’s account had been hacked due to the unexpected nature of the trade.
The Jazz were the third team in the blockbuster deal and acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino and two 2025 second-round draft picks (Clippers and Mavericks).
There had been no prior indication or rumors leading up to this significant trade, leaving fans and analysts surprised by the sudden announcement from Charania. The unexpected nature of the deal added to the disbelief among followers of the sport.
NBA reporter Chris Hine of The Minnesota Star Tribune originally had a funny response when he first heard about the trade.
“You’ve all been hacked,” he wrote on X. “That’s what I’m telling myself and going to bed.”
In a twist of irony, Davis had recently publicly expressed his desire for the Lakers to acquire more talent to bolster their championship aspirations. Little did he know at the time that Los Angeles was actively seeking to move him in a trade, making his plea for additional pieces somewhat ironic given the subsequent trade involving him.
And Hine had a funny me for that, posting a meme from “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who attended WWE’s Royal Rumble on Saturday night in Indianapolis, couldn’t quite believe it either.
“Shams got hacked?” Haliburton asked X soon after Charania posted the stunning news.
76ers star Joel Embiid was also flabergasted.
“WOWWWWW NO F WAY,” wrote Embiid, who rarely posts NBA news or stories on his X feed.
The utter surprise circulating the internet caused Charania to post again that the news was “real.”
Stephen A. Smith, who is never known not to have an opinion, posted an old video of himself and Michael Wilbon both looking shocked, seemingly in response to the mega-deal.
The news was even more surprising because, in the era of social media, there were no leaks or buzz surrounding a potential deal in the past few days, which is often the case in big-name trades in all sports.
But this story broke the mold — and almost the internet.