Chris Mannix says Lakers want to build "Dallas 2.0" around Luka Doncic: "It's really about reinventing this team"

The Los Angeles Lakers are still in the thick of things this season, but at No.6 in the latest Western Conference team standings, not many believe that they can make a run at the championship. At least not with the roster that they currently have.

Because the Lakers basically did nothing significant at the trade deadline, they are expected to make their big moves this offseason when LeBron James’ $52 million salary is off the books. And according to SI’s Chris Mannix, the Lakers are eyeing to replicate the team that Luka Doncic had when he went to the NBA Finals.

“It’s really about reinventing this team around Luka Doncic and building the kind of team that Dallas had in its last couple of years. That means finding someone that is maybe a better fit than Deandre Ayton to be that Dereck Lively or Daniel Gafford, maybe it is Daniel Gafford,” the analyst said.

“Just find somebody that can fit into that role, look out for more 3-and-D type of players that fit the Dorian Finney-Smith, P.J. Washington type of mold. They just really wanna make Dallas 2.0,” Mannix added.

The Lakers are eyeing to copy the Mavs’ 2024 frontcourt

The Luka era in Dallas peaked during the 2023-24 season when they went 50-32 and went on a giant-killing spree in the postseason. Doncic had the lowest statistical averages of his playoff career that year. Still, because the Mavs had the best team around him, they went on a giant-killing spree where they knocked off the No. 4-ranked Clippers in the first round, the top-seeded OKC Thunder in round two, and the 3rd-ranked Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals, before losing to the Boston Celtics in the 2024 NBA Finals.

Los Angeles does not have that kind of manpower, especially in the frontcourt, with Ayton not a lob threat, seemingly not interested in playing the Clint Capela role, and neither LeBron James nor Rui Hachimura being elite 3-and-D players. The Lakers have a defensive specialist in Jared Vanderbilt, but he’s not a three-point threat to fit that mold. Meanwhile, Mannix believes that the Lakers already have their version of “Kyrie” – as a scorer, although not necessarily the same player.

“I think they feel they can succeed with a backcourt of Luka and Austin Reaves, even though they are defensive challenge there, they believe they can succeed with those two guys if they get the right type of players in that frontcourt. So I think it’s gonna be all about finding the Dallas versions of those players that I mentioned this offseason,” Mannix added.

No mention of LeBron

Curiously, Mannix made no mention of LeBron, which says a lot about how the Lakers are looking to retool this summer. While Rob Pelinka has said that they would love for LeBron to retire as a Laker, it does not appear that they are too keen on having him back. For a valid reason: If they want to contend for a title next season, the last thing that they would need is a potential retirement tour that would be a big distraction all year long.

Meanwhile, Ayton has a player option for next season, and based on his recent statements, he doesn’t like the role that the Lakers have for him right now, so he could be on his way out as well. Mannix also mentioned “it could be Gafford,”meaning the Lakers could trade for him, which isn’t far-fetched because they reportedly inquired about him and Naji Marshall before the trade deadline.

The 2023-24 Mavs were indeed a special team, and there’s no question that Luka would thrive with a similar team in L.A. Following that blueprint would be a good idea, but having the exact team might not be enough, just like it wasn’t in 2024.

This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Chris Mannix says Lakers want to build “Dallas 2.0” around Luka Doncic: “It’s really about reinventing this team”

Tags: