Blockbuster Trade Shakes NBA: Quinn Cook Breaks Down the Shocking AD-Luka Swap

Over the weekend, the NBA world was sent into a frenzy when the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks pulled off a trade of epic proportions, swapping two of the league’s brightest stars—Anthony Davis and Luka Dončić. The move left basketball fans, analysts, and former players alike scrambling to make sense of what just went down.

Quinn Cook, a former Laker and Golden State Warrior, took to social media to share his shock, writing: “No loyalty in this sh** man. AD helped bring LA a championship in Year 1 after a 10-year drought. Luka took the Mavs to the Finals a couple months ago. Both are at the top of their game right now. Wowww s**t don’t make sense.”

Cook, who currently plays overseas for Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia, couldn’t hide his disbelief over both teams parting ways with two guys who are so vital to their respective franchises. The former NBA guard expanded on his initial tweet when I caught up with him, saying, “Shocked just like everybody. I mean, I think this is the most shocking trade I’ve seen in my lifetime. When Shams tweeted it, everybody thought it was fake. But then he confirmed it, and I was like, ‘Hold up, Shams doesn’t drop fake news.’ Man, I was shocked, shocked, SHOCKED!”

Cook, who has a unique perspective on this trade thanks to his connections with both the Lakers and Mavs, explained just how personal this deal is for him. He made his NBA debut with the Mavs in 2017, before signing two-way contracts with the New Orleans Pelicans, where he became teammates with Anthony Davis. They would later reunite in 2020 to win a championship with the Lakers in the NBA Bubble. Cook also played alongside LeBron James and was a part of the Lakers’ staff with Jason Kidd, now the head coach of the Mavs. Kidd will now get to work with AD in Dallas while also coaching Kyrie Irving, who, like Cook, is a Duke alum.

For the Lakers, the acquisition of Luka is about the future. LeBron James is undeniably one of the greatest to ever do it, but Luka will likely become the face of the franchise once LeBron decides to call it a career. Cook has nothing but praise for the 25-year-old Dončić. “I mean, Luka is top 3 or 5 in the league right now,” Cook said. “It’s crazy that he made it to the Finals last year and is getting traded before the All-Star break. But you get a guy like AD who’s a proven winner, and I think Dallas is in ‘win-now’ mode while LA is thinking long-term with Luka leading the way after LeBron. It’s just shocking because both guys were key in their teams making deep playoff runs. But I get it. Both teams have their reasons.”

As for the Lakers, losing Davis means they’re parting with one of the most dominant defenders in the game. But with LeBron and Luka in the fold, they’ll have an offensive juggernaut that can go toe-to-toe with anyone. Cook believes that LeBron’s leadership will make this work, pointing to the way LeBron supported Kyrie Irving during their time together in Cleveland. “LeBron’s gonna make it work, man. He’s the greatest ever. When Kyrie was in Cleveland, LeBron pushed him to be the best version of himself, even letting him take the most shots. I think he’ll do the same for Luka. LeBron will give him the keys and help him see what it takes to be one of the greats.”

On the flip side, trading Luka is a massive risk for the Mavericks. Dončić is a generational talent, capable of carrying a team on his back at just 25 years old. If Davis stays healthy and performs at a high level, he could provide a defensive anchor and give Kyrie the help he needs to make a serious run at the title. The question remains: are Davis and Kyrie enough to win it all? Or does Dallas need to add more pieces?

Cook likes what he sees, saying, “They’re close. They’ve spent a lot of time together—AD and Kyrie were both No. 1 picks in back-to-back years (2011 and 2012). They know each other’s game. With AD’s defense and the firepower Kyrie brings, I like the direction Dallas is headed. But I’m also really intrigued to see how LeBron and Luka gel in LA.”

Another point of intrigue is how Dallas handles their bigs alongside Davis. Cook, who knows firsthand how important a strong frontcourt is, pointed out how important it will be for AD to play at the four. “When you’ve got guys like Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II in the mix, AD’s going to be able to focus on being the force he is at the four,” Cook explained. “He’s been having one of his best years playing the four, so that’s good for Dallas.”

The reunion of Kidd and Davis from their 2020 Lakers championship days could pay huge dividends for the Mavericks, Cook says. “Jason Kidd is one of the smartest coaches I’ve ever been around. He’s a wizard when it comes to player personnel. You saw what he did with Dallas in a short time; he knows how to unlock AD’s potential. With Kidd in the fold, this is gonna work. It’s gonna be fun to watch.”

At the end of the day, this trade is a seismic shift in the NBA landscape. Both the Lakers and Mavericks are making moves for the future—whether that’s in the short term or long term. The only thing we know for sure is that it’s going to be a wild ride.

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Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson is the host of the Scoop B Radio Podcast. A senior writer at Basketball Society, he’s had stops as a staff writer at The Source Magazine, as a columnist and podcast host at CBS and as an editor at RESPECT. Magazine. In his downtime, he enjoys traveling, swimming and finding new sushi restaurants.

Follow Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson on Twitter: @ScoopB, Instagram: @Scoop_B & Facebook: ScoopB.

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Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson is a columnist at Basketball Society. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopB and Instagram: @Scoop_B. As a 12 year old, he was a Nets reporter from 1997-1999, co-hosting a show called Nets Slammin’ Planet with former Nets legend, Albert King, WFAN’s Evan Roberts and Nets play-by-play man Chris Carrino. Scoop B has also been a writer and radio host at CBS, a staff writer at The Source Magazine and managing editor/columnist at RESPECT Magazine. He’s a graduate of Don Bosco Prep, Eastern University and Hofstra University. You can catch him daily on the Scoop B Radio Podcast. Visit ScoopBRadio.com to listen. For inquiries and to contact Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson visit ScoopB.com