The LA Lakers could be looking to land Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo, but trading for these players is very difficult.
The Los Angeles Lakers are ready to embark on the Luka Doncic era. After the Lakers landed Doncic in a surprising trade, they found their next franchise superstar.
Doncic’s arrival has negatively impacted LeBron James, whom the Lakers are seemingly deprioritizing in favor of the Slovenian.
In fact, the Lakers are ready to let James leave in free agency to focus more on Doncic. But there is one concern.
The Lakers will struggle to get Doncic a better teammate than LeBron. Especially after what one NBA insider said about their chances to land younger superstars.
Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver PostLA Lakers unlikely to trade for Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo
According to Dan Woike of The Athletic, the LA Lakers are unlikely to be able to land either Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokounmpo in a trade.
However, there is a way for them to sign the players in free agency. Should the players force a move to the Lakers, and if Luka Doncic has a brilliant campaign the year before free agency begins, they will have a chance.
“Do I think either is realistic as a trade target? No, not really.
“The market would need to be way suppressed by a player saying they would simply walk to the Lakers in free agency, so 28 other teams shouldn’t even consider bidding, and still the Lakers’ offer would be thin.
“Now, 2027 in free agency, should either Giannis or Jokić make it there, could be interesting, especially if Dončić has the kind of season the Lakers expect out of him.”
Rob Pelinka too concerned with future, sacrificing team’s present
It’s very strange to see Rob Pelinka focus so much on building around Luka Doncic in the future, when he already has a strong foundation.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic are two of the best players in the NBA. If surrounded by the right players, the pair could lead the Lakers to a championship.
Instead, Pelinka is bizarrely protective of the team’s future. Wasting James’ potential final year in the NBA is a strange risk to take.
Especially considering that, despite his age, LeBron James is an elite player in the league. Hopefully, the pair can still compete for a title with their new roster addition.