.jpg)
1 hour ago
3
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to have a big offseason this summer as they have more financial flexibility than they have had in quite some time. This will be the offseason that shows Luka Doncic how committed the Lakers are to winning.
Doncic made it clear after his first season in Los Angeles that he wants to win, and he wants to do it soon. The next few seasons could very well be shaped by the moves the Lakers make this offseason.
“The Lakers have a megastar in Dončić and a unique amount of potential cap space for a title hopeful this offseason. This summer will go a long way toward determining how well they can build a championship contender around Luka over the next few years,” Silver Screen and Roll’s Bryan Toporek wrote.
The biggest need for Los Angeles is a center. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon believes just about any big man would love the opportunity to play alongside Doncic.
“They have the fact they’re the Los Angeles Lakers and I can just tell you, big men will do back flips to be able to be in that Lakers uniform paired with Luka. I was talking to an agent who’s got a big man who may or may not be on the move and he would love to get his guy in L.A. Big men are going to want to play with Luka that much I can assure you,” MacMahon said.
If the Lakers fail to sign a center in free agency, a trade for Milwaukee Bucks big man Myles Turner has been floated as a possibility.
“The Lakers have long admired Myles Turner but the Pacers had no interest in trading him at the time. Now with the Bucks aggressively looking to get off of Turner's long-term money, the Lakers make a move that pairs Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves with a floor-spacing big that will thrive with a ball handler like Luka. Milwaukee acquires a late first-round pick in this upcoming draft, takes back the expiring contract of Deandre Ayton, and Jarred Vanderbilt, who has a player option at the end of the 2026-27 season. The Bucks could waive Ayton to allow him to sign with someone else, or they could bring him in and trade him midway through the season. Either way, Ayton wouldn't make sense for the Bucks long-term plans, but Vanderbilt could stick around for a couple of seasons,” SI’s Alex Golden wrote.
The Lakers would likely welcome this trade, as they have been trying to land Turner for years. It would also give Doncic a versatile big man who can either roll to the basket or pop out for a jumper after setting a screen.
Turner is currently on a $108 million contract with two seasons remaining. Los Angeles is searching for a center who can elevate Doncic’s game in a way no big man has been able to since he arrived with the Lakers.
More NBA news:
English (US)