The Los Angeles Lakers’ efforts to acquire a rim-running center to satisfy Luka Doncic’s preferences hit a snag when a trade with the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams was rescinded due to a failed physical. While the trade didn’t pan out, Doncic understands the circumstances and takes a patient approach. “At the end of the day, this is our team,” Doncic said after the trade was rescinded. “This is the team we have, and we’re going to show we can do everything.”
NBA reporter Marc Stein reported that Doncic revealed “no tangible dismay” from his camp after the deal for Williams fell through. Doncic always understood that acquiring the right center might take until the summer, but he remains impressed with how quickly Los Angeles tried to address this need. Since his surprising trade from the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic has played only two games with the Lakers, resulting in a split series against the Utah Jazz. Facing a restricted workload after coming off a left calf strain, Doncic averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game as a Laker. “I think we can go very far,” Doncic said after the Lakers’ recent loss against the Utah Jazz. “Obviously, today I felt a little bit rusty, two games in after my injury-turnovers, missed free throws, so I gotta do way better. But now we’re approaching this break, so we gotta rest.” The dynamic between Doncic and LeBron James remains a focal point of speculation, especially considering both players’ tendencies to lead their team’s offense. With James approaching 40, the Lakers’ strategy will revolve around Doncic in the coming years. “I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.
We only had two games so far, and I believe he’s been on a minutes restriction since he came back from the calf,” James said before the NBA All-Star Game. “He hasn’t played since Christmas, I believe. As he continues to get in form, I think we could be really good going down the stretch. But we’ll see what happens.” Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) . The Lakers want to secure Doncic with a long-term extension, moving away from the $345 million supermax contract that would have been possible had he stayed with the Mavericks. Doncic could opt for a shorter extension, such as a two-plus-one deal worth $165.3 million, potentially setting the stage for a five-year, $418 million contract afterward. Since Doncic joined the Lakers, the franchise has been committed to reshaping the roster to enhance his playing style. The team will need to evaluate options this summer. In the meantime, despite the recent trade hiccup, Doncic seemingly understands the time it may take to fully optimize the team’s lineup after such a significant trade.
