The Los Angeles Lakers lucked into Luka Doncic before the trade deadline, but having one of the best players in the world doesn’t guarantee anything. Joel Embiid won MVP in 2023, and the 76ers were part of Monday’s draft lottery. The Spurs have Victor Wembanyama, who soon may be viewed as the best player in the world, and couldn’t make the postseason. Kevin Durant and Devin Booker were not enough to make the Suns a contender. Even, Luka missed the playoffs with the Mavs in 2023. It is not just about having a star.
Doncic is extension-eligible this offseason, but all signs point to him staying in LA after the stunning trade. The five-time All-Star is just entering his prime, but the Lakers must build a contending roster around him. Getting him a rim-rolling center is step one, but the franchise cannot be done there.
This is where things get complicated for the Lakers. They have just one first-round draft pick available to trade and are light on young talent. Austin Reaves would fetch a significant haul, but even that trade may not be enough to make Los Angeles a contender every year for the next half-decade.
The Mavericks have given Rob Pelinka and the Lakers the blueprint. Doncic helped Dallas reach the NBA Finals in 2024 with shooting, defense, and a co-star. The Lakers have some pieces of that core, but need the backline D. Getting a lob-threat center who protects the rim is a must.
LA has another problem brewing. LeBron turns 41 in December and is nearing the end of his legendary career. What do the Lakers do when James hangs up his sneakers? They won’t have the assets to acquire a second star. Los Angeles could bet on Austin Reaves filling that role, but keeping him further limits their assets in trying to upgrade via trade.
The Lakers have some inherent advantages. They have a long track record of convincing free agents to take a discount to play in LA. The iconic franchise should have no issues attracting talent, but the Lakers still need the assets to acquire those pieces.
They do not want to be the 76ers or Suns in a few years. Those teams have multiple stars, but injuries and ill-fitting rosters doomed their seasons. The NBA is loaded with talent and building a contending roster is difficult. The Lakers should study the mistakes of these teams and learn from them. If not, they may be doomed to suffer a similar fate.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ future got a lot brighter with the Luka Doncic trade. They now have a prime superstar ready to lead their roster for the next decade. The Lakers want to be in title contention every year, which means continuing to build their roster. Avoiding the draft lottery won’t be easy and is even more painful if the pick is already traded elsewhere. Luka is not enough. The franchise always has work to do to stay near the top of the standings.
