Hypothetical Pop Culture, Political, Hollywood Equivalents of Lopsided Luka Trade
In what has been described as the most shocking trade in the history of American sports, the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Lakers late Saturday night for Anthony Davis and a few scraps.
Because very few people watch the modern-day NBA, our goal here is to explain the significance of the trade to those unfamiliar with Doncic and Davis and why the trade has even the foremost authorities on the NBA shaking their heads in confusion.
For background, Doncic is just 25 years old. He is universally recognized as one of the three best basketball players in the world. Anthony Davis is 31 years old, frequently injured, and simply not as good as Doncic and never has been.
Make sense?
If not, here would be some equivalents to the trade in the worlds of pop culture, politics, Hollywood, and beyond:
Taylor Swift for Madonna
With all due respect to Madonna, no honest venue is booking her over Taylor Swift in 2025.
Joe Burrow for Matthew Stafford
Imagine trading a great quarterback in the NFL, who is still under 30 but with some injury concerns, for a good quarterback who is over 30, and has major injury concerns.
The Mavericks can relate.

DALLAS, TX -DECEMBER 25 : Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks leaves the court against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first half at American Airlines Center on December 25, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Joe Rogan for Howard Stern
Again, Anthony David was a great player.
Blake Lively for Amber Heard
In terms of exploiting the inherently false movement of "believe all women," Blake Lively is certainly in her prime.
The Luka Doncic of #MeToo, amirite?

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 08: Blake Lively attends the "It Ends With Us" photocall at IET Building: Savoy Place on August 08, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Sony Pictures)
Tulsi Gabbard for Liz Cheney
To be clear, Liz Cheney was never great. But the lopsidedness of the trade checks out.
Credit OutKick reader: @RottenKnee23 for the tip.
Brittney Griner for Merchant of Death
Clay Travis weighs in:
Trump for Biden
Nahh, Anthony Davis understands which half the court is for offense.
Billy Corgan for Bill Burr
In 2008, the Lakers traded Marc Gasol for his brother Pau Gasol. Just saying.
Greg Gutfeld for Jimmy Kimmel
Imagine making this trade in 2025.

Race crime hoaxer Jussie Smollett has entered rehab. What is he in rehab for? He infamously staged a fake race crime. (Credit: Getty Images)
The Chicago Sky ladies for Jussie Smollett
This is MAGA country. (For more details.)
Elon Musk for Bill Gates
Okay, you get the point.
JD Vance for Mike Pence
Err, we had one more. A really good one.
The more we think about it, the less sense trading Luka makes. Rough year for Mark Cuban.