When seismic trades shake the NBA landscape, most players find out the same way fans do—through social media, texts, or frantic group chats. But in this case, the story of how Austin Reaves discovered the blockbuster Anthony Davis–Luka Dončić trade is almost as wild as the deal itself.
In a new in-depth report, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin (@davemcten) dives into the behind-the-scenes moments that followed one of the most stunning trades in recent memory—and how Reaves, caught completely off guard, became an accidental centerpiece in the chaos.
According to McMenamin’s sources, Reaves was in the middle of a solo gym session at the Lakers’ El Segundo practice facility when the news broke. The shooting guard had stayed late after a team meeting to work on his off-the-dribble threes and midrange pull-ups—areas he’s honed relentlessly since joining the Lakers. With headphones on and his phone tucked into his duffle bag, Reaves was, for once, disconnected from the endless NBA news cycle.
The first person to realize what was happening wasn’t a coach or a teammate—it was a janitor. No joke. A longtime staffer recognized Reaves from a distance and casually mentioned, “Hey man, you ready to run with Luka?” Reaves, confused and assuming it was a joke, just laughed and kept shooting. But within seconds, his phone began lighting up.
“He pulled it out, and you could see the lock screen blowing up,” McMenamin says. “Group chats, Twitter alerts, messages from friends. One of the texts just said: ‘Bro, AD for Luka???’ That’s when it hit him.”
According to Reaves himself, who spoke briefly with McMenamin in the aftermath, his first reaction was disbelief. “I thought it was a fake account,” he said. “No way that’s real. Not mid-season.”
But it was. In a move no one saw coming—especially not during the heart of a playoff race—the Los Angeles Lakers had agreed to send Anthony Davis and a package of picks to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić, signaling a dramatic pivot in both franchises’ futures.
Sources within the Lakers organization say the front office kept the deal incredibly tight-lipped. Only a handful of executives and coaching staff were aware in advance, with even LeBron James reportedly only informed minutes before the official press release. Reaves, like the rest of the league, found out from his phone—and the stunned reactions in the locker room mirrored his.
McMenamin details how Reaves immediately called his agent, asking not only about the validity of the trade but what it meant for his role going forward. “He’s the kind of player that thrives on chemistry,” a source close to Reaves told McMenamin. “He and AD had built something. Luka’s a whole different vibe.”
What’s most fascinating about Reaves’ reaction wasn’t anger or excitement—it was pure curiosity. How would Luka mesh with the Lakers’ offense? Would the ball move as much? Would his role expand or shrink?
The Lakers coaching staff quickly called an emergency team meeting later that night to address the roster shift. LeBron, ever the veteran, reminded the team: “It’s the NBA. Stay ready. Stay locked in.” Reaves nodded silently, still processing what this meant for the rest of the season.
McMenamin’s reporting sheds light not just on the trade, but on the human element behind it—how one of the league’s rising stars processed a franchise-altering moment while getting shots up, alone in a quiet gym.
The full story dives even deeper into the locker room dynamics, what went on between the Lakers and Mavs front offices, and how Dončić reacted on his end. But it’s Reaves’ stunned discovery—innocently grinding through his solo workout—that gives the trade a dose of surreal humanity.
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