Luka Doncic isn’t hiding how he feels about his future with the Lakers.
After the Mavericks’ stunning decision to move on from him - one of the most shocking trades in NBA history - Los Angeles ended up with one of the five best players in the world. Now Doncic is in a spot that’s drawn plenty of attention, with some wondering whether the Lakers have done enough around him to give him a real shot to win big.
That criticism doesn’t come out of nowhere. The Lakers have made some poor moves in recent years and don’t have a lot of assets to upgrade the roster. Still, as long as Doncic is in the picture, they always have a chance.
And for now, he sounds settled.
Doncic said he wants to stay in Los Angeles and made it clear he’s found a comfort level there.
“Hopefully, yeah. But as you know in this NBA business, you never know what’s going to happen.
But I feel like I’ve found something here that’s very comfortable for me. And hopefully [that happens],” Doncic said, per Melissa Rohlin.
There has also been quiet talk that Doncic could someday want to return to Dallas, especially now that Nico Harrison is no longer with the organization.
For the moment, though, he gets to play in Los Angeles, live in Los Angeles, and serve as the Lakers’ top option. That seems to suit him just fine, which has to sound like encouraging news for the Lakers going forward.
In Other News...
Lakers Already Have A Walker Kessler Problem They Can't Ignore
Walker Kessler gave the Lakers exactly the sort of start they were hoping for in the season opener, but his quick fit also highlighted how thin they are behind him. Los Angeles does not have a dependable backup center in place, and with Kessler still working back from a previous injury, the team is already in a spot where one good game can sharpen the need for more frontcourt help rather than ease it.
The Lakers are reportedly keeping an eye on the market for another big man, which makes sense given the strain they could face if Kessler has to carry too much too soon. Managing his workload is going to matter all season, and the early concern is not about whether he can help, but about how often the Lakers can ask him to do it without leaving themselves exposed elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Passed On A Dalton Knecht Deal For One Frustrating Reason
The Lakers spent part of the roster-cutting process looking for a way to create room without simply giving something away, and Dalton Knecht briefly surfaced in those conversations. According to the talks with Milwaukee, Los Angeles explored moving Knecht and Jericho Sims as it tried to get under its roster limit, but the sides could not line up on the draft-pick compensation attached to the deal.
Jericho Sims was the key piece in those discussions, and the price attached to him proved to be the sticking point. Rather than meet the Bucks asking price, the Lakers moved on and released Knecht instead, leaving the front office to solve its roster crunch without completing the trade it had considered. [Read more 🡒]
Austin Reaves Is Forcing A New Lakers Debate Already
Austin Reaves has wasted no time making the Lakers think bigger about how this offense should be built. In the 125-117 win over the Clippers, he led Los Angeles with 28 points while Luka Doncic added 23, and the early season production has already put both players on the same scoring total through two games. For a team that spent the offseason reshaping its identity, that kind of balance has made Reaves impossible to ignore.
The praise has followed. James Worthy, Derek Fisher and former player Kevin Garnett have all singled out Reaves for the creativity and skill he brings, along with the way he affects the team beyond just scoring. The question now is not whether he belongs in the conversation, but how the Lakers sort out a rotation and pecking order when he keeps playing like this. [Read more 🡒]