Welcome Back!
My goodness. Where do we start on a Monday like this? I’m still trying to wrap my head around the biggest in-season NBA trade I’ve ever seen. How? Why? Eight months after going to the NBA Finals? Luka Doncic is a Laker, and there are still three days before the NBA trade deadline. It’s a heavy hoops edition before the Super Bowl circus begins.
Letter Rip!
______________________________________________________________________________________
NBA
NBA Trade Week Blockbusters
4 Superstars Headline the Most Shocking NBA Trade Weekend of All-Time
The NBA’s Western Conference was flipped upside down this weekend. Four all-stars are moving. And yet, Adrian Wojnarowski is off living his best life with St. Bonaventure. Enter ESPN’s Shams Charania with the basketball news of the century…
Luka Doncic → Lakers
Anthony Davis → Mavericks
De’Aaron Fox → Spurs
Zach LaVine → Kings
Luka Doncic to the Lakers?! Few NBA trades have ever made this much noise. Without so much as a murmur or a whisper before it was announced, the biggest trade in a generation blindsided the NBA out of nowhere on Saturday night. The Mavericks traded 25-year-old Luka Doncic to the Lakers for 31-year-old Anthony Davis. Less than 24 hours later, another bombshell trade deal included all-star guards De’Aaron Fox (Spurs) and Zach LaVine (Kings). That’s four all-stars on the move in the Western Conference with two three-team mega-trades in one weekend.
Luka-AD Trade Details (3-Team Deal)
Fox-LaVine Trade Details (3-Team Deal)
The Trade of a Generation?
Major free-agent moves happen every summer, but deals at the mid-season deadline (of this magnitude) don’t happen. What made this weekend so unique was the age and star power of all four players involved, namely Doncic. At 25 years old, Luka is fresh off taking Dallas to the NBA Finals. He’s seen as a surefire future Hall of Famer and an absolute “untouchable” in the eyes of almost every basketball executive. So what did the Mavericks know that no one else does? I’ve never seen a team give up a player like Luka at this age.
Some rumors say the Mavericks were frustrated with Doncic’s inability to keep his body in top condition. He was in line to receive a 5-year, $345 million Supermax contract this offseason. Dallas likely saw AD as a defensive need and a short-term win-now option without the long-term financial risks of Luka’s health. That’s a risk the Lakers were willing to take (I would, too). Doncic dropped 73 points in a game just one year ago.
The Takeaways
“Materialized in the shadows.” — Shams Charania
“This was a “Holy S***” trade.” — David Aldridge
“Confusion around the league is quite high.” — NBA Exec.
“Most shocking trade in NBA history.” — Kendrick Perkins
“You better be sure [Luka’s] body is going to fall apart. That’s all I’m going to say.” — Anonymous NBA Executive (ESPN Interview)
Circle the Date: February 25
Mavericks at Lakers (10pm ET)
Quick Look-Ahead (Projecting Futures)
Luka, LeBron and the Lakers (26-18) are currently 5th in the West, but they need another trade for a big man to replace AD and put them over the top. The Mavericks’ brass believes defense will win them a title, but I (personally) wouldn’t have traded away Luka for anyone on the planet. The Kings walked away with six picks and Zach LaVine (fleece!). And Victor Wembanyama now has a star guard with De’Aaron Fox to put the Spurs in win-now mode. Buckle up. The trade deadline isn’t over (Thursday, Feb. 6).
Read More
CBS Sports: Trade Grades: Lakers Get ‘A+’ as They Solve Future, Mavs Fail
SI: NBA World in Disbelief Over Star-Studded Lakers-Mavericks Trade
NBC Sports: Winners & Losers From the Luka Doncic, Anthony Davis Blockbuster Trade
Yahoo! Sports: The Spurs’ Deal for De’Aaron Fox is the Weekend Blockbuster That Should Have the West’s Attention
______________________________________________________________________________________
NCAA
Rivals Week Revenge
NCAA (Men’s Basketball): 7 of Top 12 Fall in Wild Rivalry Weekend
We’re finally into February, which means the prelude to March Madness is upon us. This past weekend was something of a spectacle and an early barometer for the chaos that’s coming. Seven of the top 12 teams lost, including six in upset fashion. No. 2 Duke and No. 10 Purdue took care of business against their rivals, UNC and Indiana, at home. Elsewhere? Drama. No. 8 Tennessee got revenge on No. 5 Florida (by 20) after the Gators beat the Vols by 30 less than a month ago. To top it off, John Calipari’s Razorbacks stunned No. 12 Kentucky in Coach Cal’s return to Rupp Arena. That had to feel good. Countdown to March: 26 days.
Notable Upsets
Kansas State def. #3 Iowa State (80-61)
#22 Texas Tech def. #6 Houston (82-81, OT)
USC def. #7 Michigan State (70-64)
#25 UConn def. #9 Marquette (77-69)
Baylor def. #11 Kansas (81-70)
Arkansas def. #12 Kentucky (89-79)
Marquee Games
#10 Purdue def. Indiana (81-76)
#1 Auburn def. #23 Ole Miss (92-82)
#2 Duke def. North Carolina (87-70)
#4 Alabama def. Georgia (90-69)
#8 Tennessee def. #5 Florida (64-44)
______________________________________________________________________________________
HIGHLIGHTS
Lightning Round
NFC Three-Peats in Pro Bowl (76-63)
The NFL Pro Bowl looks a lot different lately, but friendly competitions and flag football were still plenty entertaining for football fans. The NFC beat the AFC in the overall weekend score (76-63) thanks to a narrow win in flag football (56-50) where Lions QB Jared Goff won MVP and LSU wide receivers stole the show with eight touchdown catches — Ja’Marr Chase (3), Malik Nabers (2), Brian Thomas Jr. (2) and Justin Jefferson (1).
Rory McIlroy (-21) Wins at Pebble Beach
What started with an ace on the Par-3 15th last Thursday turned out to be the deciding hole in a two-shot overall win for Rory McIlroy at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. McIlroy finished 21-under in his 2025 PGA season debut, holding off Shane Lowry (-19) and Justin Rose (-18) for his 27th career win. He’s now won an event in eight straight seasons — the longest active streak on the PGA Tour.
Quick Becomes 1st U.S. Goalie to 400
A lengthy list of weekend hockey highlights led us to one big milestone for Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick. The 39-year-old net-protector logged 34 saves in a win over the Golden Knights (4-2) to reach the 400-win milestone. He’s the 15th goal in NHL history to crack 400 — the third active player — and the only U.S.-born goaltender to do so.
Gunners Go Goal-Crazy on City (5-1)
The marquee match of the weekend in the Premier League wasn’t much of a competition at all. Arsenal thrashed Manchester City (5-1) with goals from five separate boots in a statement win that took them from 6-up to 9-up on City in the EPL table. The Gunners (50 pts) are currently second behind Liverpool (56 pts) with only Nottingham Forest (47 pts) in contention.
Iowa Upsets #4 USC on CC’s Jersey Night
Unranked Iowa women’s basketball snapped No. 4 USC’s 15-game winning streak Sunday in Iowa City (76-69). It was the first time a top-five team in women’s basketball fell to an unranked opponent in 2025. Senior Lucy Olsen (28 pts) scored a career-high on a night when Caitlin Clark’s jersey entered the rafters at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
For the next-level college football who still isn’t satisfied after the season’s end, Saturday brought some of the best seniors in the nation to Mobile, Alabama for an NFL showcase. TCU WR Jack Bech won MVP with six catches for 68 yards and the game-winning walk-off touchdown (22-19). Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard (6-for-7, 54 yards) and Alabama QB Jalen Milroe (3-for-5, 21 yards) also played.
______________________________________________________________________________________
OTHER NEWS
Six-Time WNBA All-Star DeWanna Bonner Signs 1-Year Deal to Join Indiana Fever (ESPN)
NFL Considering Electronic First Down Measurements Next Season (Yahoo! Sports)
Chip Kelly Leaves Ohio State to Join Raiders as Next Offensive Coordinator (NBC Sports)
Jimmy Butler Trade to Warriors Nixed by His Unwillingness to Sign Extension (CBS Sports)
Claressa Shields Becomes Undisputed Female Heavyweight Champion (ESPN)
Jack Flaherty Returns to Detroit Tigers on 2-Year Deal (SI)
Eagles LT Lane Johnson Squashes Retirement Talks After Super Bowl LIX (FOX Sports)
Connecticut Sun Sign Former No. 1 Pick & WNBA MVP Tina Charles (SI)
Former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent Dies at Age 86 (CBS Sports)
______________________________________________________________________________________
SCHEDULE
Tonight’s Must-Watch List
NBA
Rockets at Knicks (7:30 pm ET, NBATV)
Magic at Warriors (10:00 pm ET, NBATV)
Full NBA Schedule (10 Games)
Premier League
Chelsea vs. West Ham (3:00 pm ET, USAN)
NCAA Basketball
W: #10 Duke at #17 NC State (7:00 pm ET, ESPN2)
M: #3 Iowa State at #11 Kansas (9:00 pm ET, ESPN)
©2023 Media Mobilize All rights reserved