When the Los Angeles Lakers announced they had acquired Luka Doncic, the NBA world was understandably shocked. Basketball fans agreed that LA had miraculously acquired a generational talent who could change the franchise forever. Of course, that would require the Lakers to get the most out of Doncic’s talent. An entire season has passed since the trade, and Los Angeles fans are worried that general manager Rob Pelinka could be letting an opportunity slip through his fingers.
This will be a pivotal offseason for the Lakers. If they pull off masterful moves, Doncic could remain in Los Angeles for the foreseeable future. If Pelinka doesn’t deliver something substantial, rumors and speculation about the 27-year-old superstar will swirl. After another disappointing postseason run, the Lakers need to make some noise, or they will risk fracturing their most important relationship.
The Lakers & Luka Doncic Need A Big Man
When Doncic arrived from Dallas, it signified the beginning of a new era in Los Angeles. The future of the franchise was secure, or so people thought. The ink on his new contract hadn’t even dried before people were pointing out the obvious: the Lakers needed a new big man as soon as possible. The team shipped Anthony Davis out in exchange for Doncic, and the new lack of a prominent center was assumed to be temporary. Surely, Pelinka would get to work at filling that void.
It seems that finding a suitable replacement for Davis is easier said than done. The Lakers made an ill-fated trade for Mark Williams, followed by bringing in DeAndre Ayton from the Portland Trailblazers. Both moves have done more harm than good for the LA frontcourt.
How does this relate to Doncic? It’s clear that he’s at his best when he plays alongside a rim-running big man. Doncic is one of the best playmakers in the league, and his ability to find teammates for lobs is a thing of beauty. Followers of the Mavericks fondly remember Doncic’s deft passes to Derek Lively II and Daniel Gafford.
If the Lakers want to show Doncic that they’re serious about building around him, they will move heaven and earth to acquire a proven big man in the offseason. There have been rumors that they are pursuing Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons or Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz. If they miss out on those two, fans can expect names like Robert Williams III and Yves Missi to float around Lakersland. The bottom line is that Pelinka needs to bring in someone, or else Doncic can’t truly live up to his offensive talent.
Convincing Luka To Stay In LA
This moment is all about intention. The Lakers have to prove to Doncic that they are adamant about crafting a strong team to support him. They are officially bringing back Austin Reaves, and they will attempt to secure LeBron James on a minimum contract. Others like Marcus Smart and Rui Hachimura may remain. The Lakers can’t stop there, however. They need to step up and finally sign a big man who can work in tandem with Doncic.
Los Angeles has other holes to fill, too. They need wing players who can shoot and play defense to solidify the perimeter. Pelinka has a long to-do list on his desk this summer, and not checking all the boxes could send the wrong message to Doncic. The honeymoon period in Los Angeles has ended, and the Lakers probably only have one or two more seasons before their star player demands a strong run in the playoffs…or a move to a different team.
