Now that the Lakers have traded for Luka Dončić, a new star is in town and ready to be the team’s focal point.
The franchise and Dončić wasted no time establishing this partnership and began working together to ensure the Lakers are optimized for a playoff run this season.
Based on recent reports, Luka made it known shortly after being traded to Los Angeles that he wanted a center that could be a vertical lob threat on the roster.
With just hours left until the trade deadline closed, vice president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka got the job done by trading for Mark Williams.
Lakers had been looking for a big but once they got Luka this week, they knew exactly what kind of big they wanted. From what I’ve heard, in Luka’s initial basketball conversations he told Lakers GM Rob Pelinka he played best when he had a vertical lob threat. When Charlotte…
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 6, 2025
It’s no secret that the Lakers were desperate for a center. Christian Wood has missed all season and with Anthony Davis gone, Jaxson Hayes was the team’s lone non-two-way center on the roster.
Adding Williams as a vertical lob threat gives Luka an option near the rim for easy buckets. On the season Williams is averaging 16 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.
With Dončić now on the Lakers and the ball likely to be in his hands making decisions on how to attack, it makes sense he likes to have a big he can dump off to and he made it clear he prefers that instead of a slower defensive center.
After huddling with Luka Doncic after the trade, he impressed upon Lakers’ brass his desire to play with a lob threat, mobile big whose vertical spacing gives Doncic another option when making his reads, sources told ESPN.
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 6, 2025
Luka is an elite passer who averages 7.8 assists per game. Only LeBron James, who averages 9.1 assists, earns more dimes than Luka. Together, they will be sensational to watch and now Williams can reap the benefits of these two elite passers.
With Luka able to opt out at the end of the 2025-26 season, it’s important to make him feel happy and empowered while he’s a Laker.
The Lakers’ actions, such as holding a grand press conference for Luka, hiring his sports performance people and asking for his opinion on players to trade for show him that as long as he’s a Laker, he will be taken care of and an important part of the team’s future.
Now that L.A.’s future features Luka, it’s as bright as ever.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88.
