The Worst Trade in NBA History Led To This

In February 2025, the Dallas Mavericks made a trade that broke their city. They sent Luka Dončić — their franchise cornerstone — to the Los Angeles Lakers. No warning. No bidding war. Just gone. What followed was one of the most painful rebuilds in recent NBA history. A 26-win season. A fired GM. A fanbase that had given up hope. But out of that disaster came a 1.8% lottery miracle. And out of Newport, Maine came an eighteen-year-old who had been breaking records since he was fourteen. This is how the worst trade in NBA history led to Cooper Flagg. Subscribe for more stories about the human side of sport. #dallasmavs #lukadoncic #rookieoftheyear2025 #cooperflagg #lukatrade