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After seven productive years with the Dallas Mavericks, Luka Doncic completed one of the most notable trades in recent NBA history. The Slovenian guard admitted he was surprised by the deal that saw Anthony Davis heading to Dallas in return.
Doncic had achieved much personal recognition, but the Mavericks had failed to deliver the biggest prize. Now, with a new franchise, could it be time for the 2019 Rookie of the Year to finally earn the NBA Championship that his talent deserves?
Lakers Lurking
The Los Angeles Lakers won the last of their 17 NBA titles in 2020 and remain in contention for this season’s pennant. After 55 games of the current campaign, the team enjoyed the fourth-best record in the Western Conference.
Their return was enough to give the Lakers the lead in the Pacific Division, and a place in the playoffs seems assured. Luka Doncic's arrival should help seal that postseason appearance, but can the player achieve personal glory?
After a relatively slow start at his new franchise, Doncic’s ranking slipped in the NBA MVP odds race. There is still time to make up ground, and the team’s new guard finally seems to be settling into his surroundings.
Key Performance
On February 23, Doncic played against his old team, the Denver Nuggets. The guard produced his best performance in a Lakers shirt. The guard scored 32 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and four steals.
The 123-100 victory cemented the Lakers’ position at the top of the Pacific Division, while Luka Doncic indicated that his contribution will give him confidence moving forward. It’s a positive outlook for fans, but what must the team do to land that 18th NBA Championship?
Busy Period
Luka Doncic isn’t the only new face at the Crypto.com Arena. The franchise acquired Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Brooklyn Nets in December. Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris subsequently followed from the Dallas Mavericks.
With trading now over, the Lakers are looking ahead to the remainder of the 2024/25 season. The roster has plenty of cover in the forward positions and shouldn’t have too many issues regarding points scoring.
However, LA fans may be concerned that their team did not move to replace Anthony Davis at center. His quality and experience may well be missed in those tight games as the Lakers look to close out the Pacific Division title.
Luka Doncic heads a potent forward line, but will a lack of quality in the middle of the court come back to bite this Los Angeles franchise?
The Los Angeles Lakers have done all they can regarding the 2024/25 NBA season. The arrival of Luka Doncic marked the most significant trade in the campaign, and the former Mavericks man must now help the current roster to push forward into the playoffs and beyond.
In terms of next season, the biggest challenge will be to find an experienced and high-quality center to replace Anthony Davis. The owners and coaching staff will also review the draft for reinforcements in this key court area.
The team certainly isn’t short of targets, and before the draft deadline hit, the Lakers were linked with several names in this position. It was felt that the franchise would make a move for the Portland Trail Blazers’ Robert Williams III. A versatile figure comfortable at center or as a power forward, Williams was a first-round draft pick for the Boston Celtics in 2018.
Nic Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets is also thought to have been closely monitored by the LA Lakers scouting staff. At six feet eleven inches, Claxton is a giant center who may well have the presence to cover the hole left by Anthony Davis.
Other potential options for the Lakers moving forward include Clint Capela, Deandre Ayton, Walker Kessler, and Day’Ron Sharpe. Each has plenty of experience in that key central position and may well come under the spotlight.
For now, the Los Angeles Lakers will have to wait until the offseason before making any more roster changes. They stunned the basketball world with the trade of Luka Doncic, but will they regret the loss of Anthony Davis at center?
The trade of Luka Doncic from Dallas to the Los Angeles Lakers was remarkable. In these days of digital media, the rumor mill openly discusses most deals, but nobody sees this coming.
He’s a world-class player, but his slow start to life in LA shows that the Lakers were taking a gamble. It’s hoped that following his brilliant individual display against the Mavericks, Doncic can now settle into life at the Lakers and propel his team deep into those playoffs.
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