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Not too long ago, Luka Doncic was thrown for a loop that had massive implications on his NBA future.
The Dallas Mavericks decided it was time to end the Doncic experiment after 6.5 years, leading to a blockbuster midseason trade in 2024-25 that will likely remain a hot topic for decades.
The Mavericks sent Doncic, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick. So far, so good for Doncic in his new home, as he’s reached the postseason twice and made a legitimate MVP run to start his stint with the Lakers.
However, Doncic’s ultimate goal is to win championships, and according to a report from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the six-time All-Star has made that clear to Los Angeles following his blockbuster trade and the Lakers’ early playoff exit.
"The team has kept Doncic informed as the draft and free agency approaches; there is an expectation from the six-time All-Star for the Lakers to present a near-immediate path to championship contention,” McMenamin wrote Thursday.
“Luka wants to be a championship team yesterday,” a source close to Doncic said. “Ever since the trade, they’ve always told us: ‘summer of ‘26. We’ll show you in the summer of ‘26.’ So, we are so excited that the summer of ‘26 is here.”
It’s not unreasonable for a 6-foot-6 phenomenon in his prime to desire a championship-caliber roster/supporting cast. Entering the 2025-26 campaign, it seemed like the Lakers had done their due diligence to position themselves for a captivating title run.
Los Angeles took Doncic’s Marcus Smart free agent decision to heart, signed former Phoenix Suns lob threat Deandre Ayton to fill their starting center void, and added more perimeter shooting by striking a deal with former Memphis Grizzlies three-point sniper Jake LaRavia.
Before the Feb. 5 deadline, the Lakers elevated their three-point shooting to new heights by acquiring 44.2% career long-range sharpshooter Luke Kennard in a Gabe Vincent-centered trade.
While Smart and Kennard lived up to their billing in their own unique ways (Smart proved to be a high-value on-ball defender while Kennard was near automatic from beyond the arc), Ayton was as unreliable as it gets from an energy standpoint, and LaRavia never found his three-point touch in his first season as a Laker.
Although Doncic’s postseason absence played a significant role in the Lakers’ demise (the Oklahoma City swept them in the Western Conference Semifinals), it was apparent that Los Angeles’ wing depth (specifically three-and-D contributors) and frontcourt production would be two of their primary areas for improvement heading into the offseason.
It remains to be seen if the Lakers will address them this summer.
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