Jeanie Buss said that secrecy was the main reason the shocking Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade went through.
The Lakers owner revealed Thursday that if the deal between the Lakers and Mavericks had been leaked beforehand, it was likely that the trade would have been called off.
“I have a feeling if it did leak, the trade probably wouldn’t have happened, and for so many different reasons,” Buss told Rob Perez and Antonio Daniels on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “People working against us, that would not want to see that trade happen.”
Buss also said how trade leaks had previously stopped the Lakers from making potential moves, adding that management had to change their approach with the Doncic-Davis blockbuster.
“Keeping things under wraps is really, really important,” Buss continued. “Our circle is tight because over the years, we did have problems with things leaking out, and that did disrupt plans and caused some problems in our basketball operations.
“Finally, we got rid of the problem. Now we can keep things under wraps when we choose to. I really learned a lesson there that you’ve always got to do what’s best for the organization because everybody’s got their angle in how they want something to go.”
Almost nobody outside of management for the Lakers and Mavericks knew about the potential trade beforehand, leaving both Doncic, 26, and Davis, 32, shocked by the news.
LeBron James also had no idea about the trade beforehand, reportedly finding out while out to dinner with his family following the Lakers-Knicks game on Feb. 1, per ESPN.
Insider Shams Charania, who first reported the trade, said the Mavericks reportedly reached out to the Lakers about the trade several days prior.
“This deal materialized in the shadows. This came out of nowhere,” Chariana said in February. “LeBron James had no idea this was coming. Anthony Davis had no idea this was coming.
“I’m told Luka Doncic is still stunned about this trade.”
