One Year After the Trade, Luka Doncic Gives Lakers a New Timeline
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Tuesday marks exactly 12 months since Luka Doncic first suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers, nine days after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported his surprise move from the Dallas Mavericks. The franchise is still searching for a breakthrough in the Western Conference, but Doncic’s presence has already reshaped its priorities.
Record unchanged, direction altered
Los Angeles is 32-20, virtually identical to last season’s 32-19 mark reached the night of Doncic’s debut. The difference now is a three-year extension the 26-year-old signed last summer, keeping him under contract through at least 2027-28 and shifting the organization’s focus away from the aging Anthony Davis–LeBron James core.
A slow start, then MVP-level numbers
Coming off a calf strain, Doncic logged 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting and missed six of seven three-pointers against the Utah Jazz in his first game. He needed four outings to reach 20 points, finishing last season with averages of 28.2 points and 7.5 assists on 44% shooting over 28 contests—his lowest shooting and playmaking figures since his rookie year.
Motivated by off-season criticism of his conditioning, Doncic reported leaner to training camp. Before suffering a hamstring injury last Thursday against Philadelphia, he had appeared in 42 of the Lakers’ first 50 games without any absence longer than three games, outperforming Davis, who played just 29 times for Dallas before being traded to Washington last week.
This season Doncic is at 32.8 points per game on a 38% usage rate, leading the league in free throws made (8.5) and attempted (10.9). Only Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has posted more regular-season wins above replacement (WARP) during the past year than Doncic’s 14.1.
Aborted deal signals new strategy
Soon after acquiring Doncic, the Lakers agreed to send Dalton Knecht, a first-round pick and a swap to Charlotte for center Mark Williams, 23. The trade was rescinded over medical concerns, but it underscored the intent to build around Doncic’s timeline rather than James’. That became clearer when Los Angeles let James play out his option season instead of extending him; agent Rich Paul said the forward would monitor the team’s roster moves.
Last summer the Lakers swapped veteran wing Dorian Finney-Smith, 32, for 24-year-old Jake LaRavia and addressed the center position by acquiring Deandre Ayton, Doncic’s fellow 2018 draft class member. They have not yet spent their remaining first-round picks.
Playoff outlook
The Lakers are tied for fifth in the West with Houston and Minnesota but own only the conference’s eighth-best point differential. DraftKings lists them sixth in odds to win the West, and ESPN’s Basketball Power Index simulations give them a 25% chance to claim a playoff series, making another first-round exit the most probable result.
Summer flexibility
Only Doncic, Knecht, LaRavia and Jarred Vanderbilt have guaranteed money for 2026-27. If James departs and Ayton plus Marcus Smart pick up player options, the Lakers would still open more than $50 million in cap space while holding restricted-free-agent rights to Austin Reaves, whose $21 million cap hold is lower than his expected salary.
Waiting until July would also allow the front office to package up to three first-round selections—2026 (once made), 2031 and 2033—after being limited to one during the season.
Possible targets
The Mavericks’ path to the 2025 NBA Finals—adding rim-running centers Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford plus defensive wings Derrick Jones Jr. and P.J. Washington—offers a template. Los Angeles could pursue Gafford, Washington or forward Naji Marshall if Dallas is willing to negotiate again.
Free-agent centers Mitchell Robinson (New York) and Robert Williams III (Portland) are realistic options, as is guard Keon Ellis, now in Cleveland. Restricted forward Peyton Watson could be reachable through sign-and-trade because of Denver’s tax concerns.
Recalling 2019
The Lakers face a scenario reminiscent of 2019, when delaying the finalization of the Davis trade preserved enough cap space to sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Danny Green and JaVale McGee, then add low-cost contributors Rajon Rondo and Dwight Howard. That depth fueled the 2020 championship run before later moves depleted the roster. Management now has a similar opening to surround Doncic with complementary talent.
The organization’s ability to capitalize on that flexibility will determine whether Doncic’s second year in Los Angeles produces a deeper playoff push than his first.
Source: ESPN
