After a blockbuster commerce for Luka Doncic, the Los Angeles Lakers are content material to delay any additional large strikes till this summer season.
On the information convention to introduce Doncic, Lakers basic supervisor Rob Pelinka advised reporters that he wasn’t attempting to exchange the departed Anthony Davis earlier than the commerce deadline, saying that buying and selling for a beginning heart was “unrealistic.”
That is an inexpensive place for the chief to take, particularly given how all of a sudden the Doncic commerce got here collectively. Actually, when Mavs GM Nico Harrison talked about buying and selling Doncic to the Lakers, Pelinka initially thought he was joking.
However this does imply that the Lakers’ playoff probabilities with 40-year-old LeBron James could have taken successful this season. With Doncic nonetheless coping with a calf pressure that is stored him out since Christmas, the Lakers may very nicely battle with All-Defensive heart Anthony Davis being changed by some mixture of Jaxson Hayes, Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Koloko. Or, the staff may punt on protection fully and play James on the 5.
Nonetheless, the Lakers future appears brilliant with Doncic on board long-term. It appears even brighter with the report that Pelinka managed to get the commerce completed with out sacrificing rookie Dalton Knecht and surrendering only one first-round decide. That ought to give the Lakers draft capital to reshape the roster. It helps that Doncic will earn $11M lower than Davis subsequent season.
The Lakers could not have a reputable heart this season, however they do all of a sudden have a high-powered offense and an exceedingly brilliant future. After pulling off an unbelievable commerce, Pelinka could be forgiven for under making small strikes the remainder of the way in which.
