Explaining the Luka Doncic Trade in Penguins Terms

If you're at all paying attention to the sports world at large, you're well aware of the recent Luka Doncic blockbuster deal that sent ripples through the universe with how scandalous it was for Dallas Mavericks fans.

So, in classic fashion, I'm going to play the comparison and equivalence game with the Penguins. There are actually some crazy comparisons you could make.

Who's Who?

Anthony Davis = Erik Karlsson

For this exercise, we're going to omit the secondary pieces of the Luka trade on both sides to streamline things. We're concerned about the marquee pieces of this deal.

For Anthony Davis, let's assume his comparison is Erik Karlsson.

Davis, moreso known for his time with the New Orleans Pelicans (a bad franchise) than the Lakers, is into his 30's, has several NBA career accolades, and is primarily seen as a defensive player.

For Erik Karlsson, his relationship with the Penguins is similar. He's known more for his time with the Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks (two disgruntled franchises), is into his 30's, has several NHL accolades, and is a defenseman (take that with a grain of salt at times).

Luka's Comparison

Luka Doncic is an otherworldly basketball player. Not only did he win Rookie of the Year, but every year since he has been an NBA All-Star, an All-NBA 1st Teamer, and has averaged over eight rebounds and eight assists while scoring 28.6 points per game.

He's averaging almost a triple-double in his career. Oh, and he's only 25 years old.

I'm admittedly not an NBA fan. I infinitely prefer college basketball. But even I can't help but stagger at how monumental this deal is.

The Dallas Mavericks traded away their superstar face of the franchise for, yes, a good player, but he's an aging player that has been bugged by injuries most of his career.

Moreover, if the Penguins traded Karlsson right now for a forward, they would have virtually no defense left. And that is the conundrum that the Los Angels Lakers are facing despite getting what will be one of the greatest NBA players of all time.

This trade was so radical that the world's largest language learning software got in on the conversation.

The move makes no sense. Now it's time to show you what it would be like if the Penguins pulled off what the Lakers did.

Trade Equivalents

Hey Paul Bissonnette, how about instead of obsessing over Crosby to the Avalanche, we settle for MacKinnon to the Penguins instead? The NHL gets what they want with the MacKinnon-Crosby connection just like how the NBA gets what they want with the Luka-LeBron duo.

We would also accept Cale Makar as an answer here.

Poaching the greatest thing to happen to the state of New Jersey since 1995 would be on-brand for this type of trade. Somehow I think the Penguins would lose this trade because Jack Hughes is fairly controversial. But that just makes it even more comparable to the Mavs' relationship with Luka.

This might be the one. Pastrnak is only 28 and has been point-per-game in every year since 2018.

On top of that, it's worth noting that the Luka trade occurred within the NBA's Western Conference. Both the Mavericks and Lakers have ample chance to face each other in the playoffs each year. This would be an NHL Eastern Conference blockbuster.

When you treat the Penguins like the aging team that won a championship recently but are without much direction in the present, you see the Los Angeles Lakers in the mirror.

For the Bruins and Mavericks, they both won their championship over a decade ago in 2011, have been perennial contenders since then, but have failed to win another one.

If you want the Penguins' equivalent to the Luka trade in the most complete sense, here you go.

And the point to all of this is that it would NEVER happen. Ever.

If you want some REAL trade possibilities for Penguins' Erik Karlsson, check out our mock trade article for EK65 by clicking HERE.

Tell us on Twitter/X what you think the Penguins or NHL equivalent is to the Luka Doncic trade @PensLabyrinthFS!