- Advertisement -
HomeBasketballNBADoncic deal adds to Lakers' mystique

Doncic deal adds to Lakers’ mystique

- Advertisement -

In 2004 it was rumored that the LA Lakers called the Dallas Mavericks about a Shaquille O’Neal for Dirk Nowitzki swap. Mavs owner Mark Cuban hung up the phone. Cuban doesn’t own the Mavericks now, and if he did Luka Doncic wouldn’t be in LA now, in a trade that sends Anthony Davis to Dallas.

That Dallas swung a deal sending Doncic out of town isn’t the issue. Organizations have their reasons for shipping out superstars. Doncic is a generational talent. Six months ago he led Dallas to the NBA Finals basically on one leg. His conditioning has always been a question. ESPN senior NBA reporter Brian Windhorst went scorched earth on Doncic’s cardiovascular health last spring.

If concerns over Doncic’s conditioning are the main reason for the shocking deal that took place on Feb. 1, I get it. I’d also understand if new ownership, interesting new ownership, had some trepidation over giving Doncic a 5-year, $345 million supermax extension this summer or in 2026. Again: Dallas is under relatively new ownership. Player contracts continue to balloon. The league recently signed a new 11-year, more than $700 billion TV deal, so the team’s would be in good shape. Could it be that Dallas ownership sees that as the last huge TV deal?

Even with his conditioning apparently not being where Mavs brass would like, Doncic has already built a hall of fame resume. In six full seasons, he’s made five All-NBA first teams. That’s more than NBA greats like Steph Curry, Moses Malone, Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson, David Robinson, John Stockton, Jayson Tatum, Nikola Jokic and Davis.

Doncic in those six years also has built a solid postseason resume, full of game-winning shots, two trips to the West Finals and the run to the 2024 NBA Finals. Joel Embiid hasn’t gotten past the second round of the playoffs. Tracy McGrady never led a team to a single postseason round win. Reggie Miller didn’t win his first playoff series until his seventh year in the League.

Defensively, Doncic has his warts. Offensively, he’s one of the best we’ve ever seen. The only players with higher regular season per game scoring averages are Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Only Jordan averages more points per game in the playoffs than Doncic.

Yes, I understand Dallas’ concerns. But the move represents malpractice at the highest level.

It was so bad that everyone online thought Shams Charania was hacked. Doncic is 25. This is like if the Bulls traded Jordan in 1989, or if Cleveland traded Doncic’s new teammate, LeBron James, in 2008. Top-4 players in the league don’t get dealt in their prime, especially when they don’t ask for it as it’s been reported Doncic did not seek a trade.

Mavs GM Nico Harrison on Sunday said the deal puts Dallas in a better position to “win now.” The Mavs surely are better defensively, but the team played great defense in its run to the 2024 Finals — with Doncic on the floor. Dallas has a huge front line now, with Davis, the Daniel Gafford/Dereck Lively platoon, and PJ Washington. Kyrie Irving has been great for Dallas, having some of the best statistical seasons of his career since he arrived. Klay Thompson has been hit or miss this season, but he’s a winner. Jason Kidd has turned out to be a really good coach.

The Lakers didn’t fleece Dallas. But the Mavs ceiling is probably the second round. Oklahoma City, Denver, and even Houston are still a tier above Dallas. Memphis and Dallas may be on the same plane.

For the Lakers, the deal continues a six-decade run of acquiring the best players in the League, or making deals for players who would be the best in the NBA:

Wilt Chamberlain
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Magic Johnson
Shaquille O’Neal
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Luka Doncic

Chamberlain arrived in LA from Philly in 1968. Over the last 57 years, the Lakers have only played 11 seasons without at least one of those players. That group includes six of the best 15 players of all time. Doncic is tracking to finish among that group.

In the short term, Dallas may have “won” the trade.

The Lakers by moving Davis gave away their only reliable rim protector, and the second-best defensive player in the League behind Victor Wembanyama. James, at no fault of his at 40, is not the defensive player he once was. Austin Reaves tries hard on that end, but he’s no stopper. We know about Doncic’s defensive problems. Those three will be on the court together a lot. LA doesn’t have any real depth at center. The Lakers for a stretch will start Jaxson Hayes at the 5. LA was already a bad defensive team. It’s much worse now.

That’s where things get even more interesting. The Lakers in the Doncic deal were able to keep a 2031 first-round pick. Could LA use that pick and some players to acquire a reliable big? It’ll be tough. The Lakers don’t have any expiring contracts that top $3.5 million.

Maybe there’s a bigger move coming for LA.

Reports have said that Lakers GM Rob Pelinka made the Doncic deal without telling James or his agent Rich Paul. Could LA be moving away from the James era? That title came five years ago. LA hasn’t been a real contender since, despite a run to the 2023 West Finals. At 40, James can still play at a high level. The Lakers aren’t a contender as currently constructed. James should look at waiving his no-trade clause to get to a better situation.

In the long term, LA has set itself up to be a factor for much of the next decade. We’ve seen a front office build a contender around Doncic. He’ll be motivated by the move. Doncic adores Kobe Bryant. He shares a similar nickname with LA’s best-ever player. Doncic, even with his conditioning issues, has been one of the four best players in the NBA for half a decade. We’ve seen players get moved to LA and hit another level. Doncic is next.

- Advertisement -
RELATED ARTICLES
- Advertisment -

Most Popular