The Luka Doncic trade remains an unbelievable calamity. The Dallas Mavericks gave up on a franchise superstar at 25 years old, despite just coming off a run to the NBA Finals, and gave him to the Los Angeles Lakers basically for free.

Smart, who will be entering his 12th season in the NBA, is a tenacious, pesky defender who won the 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year award and has been named to the All-Defensive first team three times. He's also a capable secondary ball-handler and facilitator, not to mention a resourceful player overall.

In fact, "there were whispers in league circles about LeBron James having eyes for Dallas," Hollinger reports. But the four-time NBA MVP was not willing to pass on $52.6 million with the Lakers for a non-taxpayer mid-level exception to sign.