Lakers, Knicks, Mavericks and Suns Complete Four-Team Draft Trade for International Talent

A four-team trade involving the Lakers, Knicks, Mavericks and Suns shuffled multiple draft assets, with Dallas acquiring Spanish guard Sergio De Larrea while New York exited the first round. The Knicks, coming off their first championship in 53 years, traded away their No. 24 selection and collected several second-round picks and cash considerations in return. Cameron Carr moved from New York to Los Angeles, while Koa Peat landed with Phoenix.

Dallas Pursues International Playmaking

The Mavericks emerged as the primary beneficiaries of the deal, using the trade to move up the draft board and secure the rights to De Larrea, a 20-year-old from Valencia Basket in Spain's Liga ACB. Dallas sent its 30th overall pick (Koa Peat) to Phoenix and forwarded the 51st pick from 2024 (Melvin Ajinca) along with two future second-round selections—Philadelphia's 2030 pick and Dallas's 2032 pick—to New York.

De Larrea fits the profile of Mavericks president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri, who has a documented history of identifying overlooked talent internationally. Standing 6 feet 6 inches with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, the Spanish guard qualifies as a "big guard" archetype Ujiri favors. In his most recent Liga ACB season, the 20-year-old averaged 9.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists across 23 games, shooting 45.2 percent from the field, 42.9 percent from beyond the arc and 81.8 percent from the free-throw line—despite limited playing time of just 17.6 minutes per game. He earned Liga ACB Best Young Player honors for the 2025-26 season.

Dallas entered the draft with a clear need for secondary playmaking to pair with Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. With Brandon Williams entering unrestricted free agency and a team option remaining on Ryan Nembhard, De Larrea provides depth at the point guard position. His tight ball-handling and creative footwork suggest immediate contributions to Dallas's offensive initiation.

Ujiri's Track Record of Success

Ujiri's scouting acumen extends across his career. Mike Schmitz, who arrived in Dallas alongside Ujiri, maintains long-standing international connections developed through years of overseas scouting. The pair's relationship and global knowledge directly influenced the decision to trade up for De Larrea. Ujiri has previously identified undersized draft picks who developed into significant contributors, including Kenneth Faried (No. 22, 2011), Evan Fournier (No. 20, 2012), Pascal Siakam (No. 27, 2016) and OG Anunoby (No. 23, 2017)—all selected outside the lottery's traditional tier.