The initial reaction of many, especially Mavericks fans, to Dallas's blockbuster trade of superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in a three-team deal was shock. Many of those same people were also perplexed at the fact that the Mavericks seemingly eschewed any long-term visions of the future with the 25-year-old Doncic for a more short-term vision with the 31-year-old Davis.

The new Mavericks forward said he was ‘shocked’ by the trade that sent him to Dallas and saw Luka Doncic land with the Los Angeles Lakers.

In July 2019, at Anthony Davis' first press conference as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, the star big man said, "I'm not even going to sugarcoat it: I like the 4, I don't really like playing the 5.