LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Dallas Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison defended the jaw-dropping trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis on Sunday as a shell-shocked NBA struggled to comprehend the deal.

In a seismic development that sent shockwaves rippling throughout the basketball world late on Saturday, it emerged that the Mavs are trading away Doncic — a 25-year-old five-time All-Star — in exchange for Lakers big man Davis as part of a three-team deal.

The extraordinary trade gives Dallas badly needed defensive heft with the acquisition of Davis, while the Lakers have at a stroke solved the riddle of how to prepare for life after LeBron James, the 40-year-old superstar who is the current face of the franchise.

Neither Davis, Doncic nor James had commented on a deal that, according to US reports, was brokered by team officials without any advance warning to the players involved.

ESPN reported that James first learned of the deal late on Saturday while out for dinner in New York with his family following the Lakers’ victory over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Davis and Doncic were also not warned ahead of time, ESPN said.

ESPN’s reporter Shams Charania, who routinely breaks NBA trade news, said the news was initially so shocking that many people contacted him to ask if his social media account had been hacked.

Speaking on Sunday ahead of the Mavericks’ road game against Cleveland, Dallas executive Harrison defended the deal amid an outcry from the franchise’s fans on social media.

Harrison insisted that the arrival of Davis had the potential to turn Dallas into title contenders.

“We think defence wins championships and we’re bringing in one of the best two-way players in the league,” Harrison said. “We’re excited to feel like we’re built to win now as well as in the future.”

Asked if he could understand the frustration of fans at seeing a generational talent being traded away, Harrison replied: “I’m sorry they’re frustrated, but it’s something that we believe in as an organisation that’s going to make us better.

“We believe that it sets us up to win, not only now, but also in the future, and when we win, I believe the frustration will go away.”

Harrison also suggested the Mavericks were obliged to act pre-emptively ahead of contract extension negotiations with Doncic this summer, heading off the possibility of having to scramble to rebuild the team in the event the Slovenian sought a move.

“He was going to be able to make his own decision at some point of whether he wants to be here or not,” Harrison said. “I think we had to take all that into consideration and feel like we got out in front of what could have been a tumultuous summer.”

Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, meanwhile, admitted he had been kept in the dark about the trade until late on Saturday.

However, Kidd was adamant he was “aligned” with the front office over the trade.

“When you look at the vision of the team and what Nico wants to build, I truly support that, and truly believe that the players that we are getting are ones that can help us achieve what we want — and that’s to win a championship,” Kidd said.

The wider NBA community, meanwhile, was still struggling to comprehend the magnitude of a deal that no one saw coming.

“Insane. It’s crazy. Crazy,” Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant said late Saturday on his reaction to news of the deal.

“Would have never thought Luka Doncic would get traded. At his age, mid-season. The NBA is a wild place, man. If he can get traded, then anybody is up for grabs.

“This got to be the biggest trade I’ve seen since I’ve been in the league or since I’ve been watching the sport.”

Durant said the deal was a reminder of the cut-throat nature of the NBA, where players can be traded away by franchises at a moment’s notice.

“Players are held to a different standard of loyalty and commitment to a programme but the organisations don’t get held to that same standard from the outside,” Durant said. “It’s just the nature of the sport. Keeps you on the edge of your seat.”

Other players took to social media to express incredulity at the deal.

“April fools right?” New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson posted on X.