The Los Angeles Lakers may not be living up to their championship expectations this season, but the organization has made it clear that Luka Doncic is at the center of everything moving forward.
With the arrival of the offseason, Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka revealed that the team has been in contact with Doncic to formulate a lineup plan for next season. The Lakers are expected to aggressively reshape their roster around the superstar guard through trades, free agency and the NBA Draft.
“I think the key word is this is an ongoing, collaborative process,” Pelinka said during his end-of-season press conference. “It’s not, ‘Hey, I want X, Y and Z.’ So we’re in constant communication with him and his team. I plan on meeting him before he leaves to go home and spend time with his girls. I think we’ll get together on Friday or Saturday, so the conversation is ongoing.
“He’s an unbelievable partner. His basketball IQ on the court is what we as fans see. J.J. and I can understand his basketball knowledge from the perspective of other players in the league and the way he wants to play and who he wants to play with. His knowledge base is very broad, so these dyes and working with him are actually very inspiring. He also does it in a way that he wants to do his job well and he wants J.J. He does his job well and allows me to do my job well, so they really have a productive conversation through that lens.”
The Lakers are expected to prioritize finding a secondary creator alongside Doncic, with Austin Reeves considered a strong long-term fit after showing chemistry throughout the season, according to Lakers Nation’s Matthew Peralta.
The team is also reportedly looking for a rim-running center and a more reliable two-way wing who can consistently knock down outside shots while defending at a high level.
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