Following their blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic this weekend, an NBA insider believes the Los Angeles Lakers will return their focus to a previous trade deadline priority.
There has been no bigger story in the NBA the last few days than the shocking trade that sent Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic to LA. What makes it all the more stunning is that the biggest pieces the Lakers had to give up in the deal was one first-round pick and oft-injured star big man Anthony Davis.
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While it remains to be seen how the combo of Doncic and incumbent top star Lebron James will be together, at the very least the club as the new face of the franchise for the next decade. However, before the unexpected deal was made, upgrading the frontcourt had long been a top priority for the front office. With Davis gone, the frontline is now even weaker.
That is why it should come as no surprise that ESPN NBA insider Dave McMenamin claimed that will be the position they target next before the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, and offered up several names that will be in LA’s crosshairs.
- Luka Doncic stats (2024-25): 28.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 7.8 APG, 2.0 SPG 35% 3PT
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“Part of why Luka was so effective in leading the Mavericks to the NBA Finals was because of Derek Lively, Daniel Gafford, and guys he could be a lob threat at the rim,” McMenamin said on a Monday Sportscenter. “Those guys stayed in Dallas. They didn’t come to LA with Luka. The Lakers will be looking to find a player with a similar skillset as we reach Thursday’s deadline.
So if that is again the top priority for the Los Angeles Lakers before Feb. 6? Well, the NBA insider offered up three likely targets.
- Luka Doncic contract: Five years, $215 million
“There’s been interest in Walker Kessler from the Utah Jazz. Think about Robert Williams in Portland. Perhaps Jakob Poetl in Toronto,” he said. “All of those guys [have] verticality, size, the ability to play above the rim both offensively and defensively. This roster doesn’t really have that. They’d like to fortify that position. And guess what? They only traded one of their first-round picks to Dallas to get Luka Doncic.”
McMenamin also added that the team has a bit of a forward logjam. And in deals for the aforementioned centers, Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura likely will be added.
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