Another player makes a tired justification for not wanting one of the greatest players in the NBA. According to a rumour last week, the Los Angeles Lakers have “sights set” on getting Luka Doncic in the future. While their ambition will most certainly stay unfulfilled, not everyone linked with the Lakers will be pleased with the Dallas Mavericks star as their major draw.
Former Lakers champion Robert Horry warned LA last week on his “Big Shot Bob” podcast about having someone like Luka Doncic as their top man. “He’s not the best defender anymore, and that’s the Lakers’ problem! You must have some athletic players who can play some defence, and Luka can score with the best of them.
But we also know you have to take the beer out of his hand… “He’ll be good, but he won’t be what you need.” The argument that Doncic isn’t a good enough defender or isn’t in shape has worn thin at this point. Doncic led the Mavs to the Western Conference Finals two years ago and now leads his team to the NBA Finals. Whether he is an average defender or not is irrelevant if he can provide his team with 30 points and 10 assists. What counts is the players you surround him with
Nico Harrison and the rest of the front staff have done an excellent job of surrounding Doncic with quality, trading for Kyrie Irving in 2023, draughting Dereck Lively II, and gaining
This year’s moves by P.J. Washington, Daniel Gafford, and Klay Thompson were all made with Doncic in mind. Doncic has two years and a player option left on his contract, but he will be eligible for his second supermax extension next summer, which will be worth more than $346 million. As long as Dallas remains competitive and continues to surround him with top players, he will be content to remain with the only NBA organisation he has ever played for.
The Lakers will always be linked to the NBA’s next rising stars. They have the right to do so as one of the most successful franchises in professional sports, but Doncic appears to be an unattainable goal.
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