Mar 25, 2026
3 min read
While Luka is playing like this, there is no way to completely dismiss the Lakers as a contender
Luka Doncic is the gift that keeps on giving to the struggling Lakers
When Luca plays like this, you can't completely dismiss the Lakers as a contender
Los Angeles Lakers get Luka Doncic.They did not do what was right for him.They did not release a huge commercial package full of golden wealth, which is what most teams have to do to get the top generation star of his career with a 401K franchise in a few years YOLO.No, all Rob Pelinka has to do is go for a coffee with Niko Harrison.
In most cases, talking about transactions that occurred almost 14 months ago will be a thing of the past.However, in most cases this is not the case.And hindsight isn't 20/20 either.Everyone knew then and everyone knows now.It was the dumbest trade in NBA history.It should never have happened, but at least Dallas should have taken a historic step.
It's actually an interesting thought experiment to imagine that it wasn't.Bring Luke back to the Mavericks and you lose Cooper Flagg (Dallas almost certainly would have made the playoffs last year with Luke and thus be a non-lottery pick), but the Mavericks still have all the bones of a Finals team two years ago.
For now, there's still a reasonable argument that in the long run, Dallas might actually be on top of this deal.Not because Luka isn't special, but because Flagg is. Best of all, he's younger, much cheaper, and easier to develop with a two-way skill set over the next three years.
You don't have to agree with this.
But at least there should be an honest discussion.
No such controversy with the Lakers.Take Doncic off this team and the Lakers are going nowhere.Perhaps they'll be forced to make a pricey trade for Anthony Davis (like the one Dallas had to endure because of the salary that sent him to the Wizards).It's possible that LeBron will already be on his way and the Lakers will officially begin rebuilding by stripping away any building blocks.Either that, or they'll drop the 41-year-old into the fold.The world, asking him to play first fiddle, would be a song and dance operation to the depressing music of mediocrity, looking to an even bleaker post-LeBron future.
Instead, we have Austin Reaves' merciful second-place finisher Luka, a suddenly energetic defense, an eight-game winning streak (11 of 12), and a decidedly energetic LeBron.LeBron feels less responsible and is energized by the hope that a fifth championship is actually possible in 2026.
It doesn't mean that the Eagles are a sure contender.Without Luka, it certainly wouldn't be.There is still a question of whether this defense can keep up in the playoffs, let alone in four rounds, let alone eighteen numbers in rebounding and the lack of a defensive margin, and OKC and San Antonio deserve more than a gamble.But when Luka comes out this way, the "all bets are off" factor that cannot be rejected.
He was in the MVP category all his career, but there were enough "hands" to keep him in the second phase of this conversation.And that, at least in part, keeps the Lakers under the threshold of serious contenders.
- He's good, but he's a 3-point shooter.
- He is good, but he is one of the worst defenders in the league.
- He's good, but he can't stand the officiating and kills the team's spirit and transition defense with his live ball frustration.
- He's fantastic, but he's out of form and that's taking a toll on him as we get closer to the play-offs.
But...everything has changed. Since Jan. 1, Doncic is shooting over 40 percent from 3-point range on just under 11 attempts per game. Since the All-Star break, he's averaged over 12 attempts per game and shot nearly 43 percent from the field. That's Stephen Curry stuff.
Not only that, but it also significantly reduced crime.Maybe it's because he's one technical foul away from his suspension.For whatever reason, he hasn't been technically since March 5th, which is really his life.He's clearly been in terrific form over the summer and has stuck to it.
He also wasn't nearly the disastrous defender his reputation suggests.He's actually been a very active defenseman for a while now, even returning at the end of his time in Dallas.But this season, and especially the last few months, he has been as effective as ever.
In fact, there is still a lot of footage on the tape.Like this one in Houston's opener:
And this a few assets later:
Luka is easy on the ball due to his pace, strength, rebounding threat and overall offense, but his feet are slow and will never be a strong side.A lot of shots can't be avoided, and that's what keeps the front.No matter how much he tries, teams will switch to looking for him and try him in the air, as shown by the fact that he has separated more than 14% of the possessions with a strikeout rate in the 95th percentile in the league, according to Synergy.
Statistically, he wrestled better than you'd think, averaging 0.84 points per breakaway.That's a better mark than Amen Thompson, among several other notable defensive studs, and near OG Anunoby, Draymond Green, and Scottie Barnes.
No one is going to wake up Luka with these guys as a defender, and numbers like this are situational, but the tape doesn't lie.Where Doncic's defensive commitment shows the most, especially within the Lakers' scheme that calls for all kinds of rotations and passes, is as a disruptive helper, closing in lanes and getting back quickly, skipping passes in the lanes, just be aware.
Dončić leads the Lakers in steals and is top 10 league-wide among qualified players.He is the seventh in accusations.
Yahoo's Kelly Iko recently wrote about Doncic's progress and included this clip in her article.
There is no shortage of efforts like this to be found in the Dončić tape. Again, he's still not a good individual defender. Not by a stretch. But the Lakers are a group-project defense and he's no longer a no-show at the meetings. He's doing his part.
That's all anyone can ask when tasked with mustering as much offensive energy as Dončić.Seriously, the guy just scored 100 points in 24 hours.He scored 40 points on the Rockets on Wednesday, flew to Miami (apparently the Lakers were almost there at 5 a.m.), slept for a few hours, then rolled out Thursday night and added more in a game many assumed he wouldn't even go 60 points for the Heat.
Dončić did this at a combined clip of 55 percent, including 16 of 34 from three. The power of Dončić's shooting in this efficiency cannot be overstated.It's hard enough to keep up with him when he's shooting 32% from three like he did in the first two months of the season.But at least in that case you have a fighting chance.
If the 3-ball went like this, forget it.He can carry a team into the playoffs by himself.Throw in Reaves and LeBron, Marcus Smart is playing quietly well, Rui Hachimura is hitting 44% of his 3s, a talented conditioning coach in JJ Redick (who is a legitimate asset in playoff basketball), a strong defense, the premium three points come catch-up time, and yes, they should give the Lakers at least a playoff chance.
But more than that, the Lakers are fully set up for the future in a way that didn't exist before Dončić landed in their lap.Having a 27 year old Luka is like having a 27 year old LeBron.You are cast as a threat by the power of your star alone.That's before you count Reaves, who just turned 28 in May, and the Lakers' $50-plus million cap hit this summer.to receive, and five first-round picks over the next seven years.
It's a great foundation on which to build something spectacular and sustainable around Doncic, who, it bears repeating, should never have been traded.It was a gift.One that will continue to give to the Lakers for years to come.
