Lakers’ exit shouldn’t skew the narrative of Luka Doncic trade

Fortunately for the Lakers, all indicators level in the direction of Luka Doncic signing a max-extension this offseason, and persevering with to don—pun supposed—the enduring purple and gold for the foreseeable future. For that cause alone, regardless of their embarrassing first-round exit, the sky isn’t falling in Laker land. 

Doncic, for all his shortcomings, is an almost unparalleled offensive engine. Whereas within the coming days, weeks, and months, he’ll possible be the topic of a lot criticism, citing his weight, lack of conditioning, and defensive inabilities, Doncic continues to be the only real cause that the Lakers must be considered as perennial title contenders going ahead. 

Whereas Lakers followers are absolutely displeased to be seeing their group bounced within the first spherical, the way forward for the franchise stays exceedingly vivid. The arrival of Doncic in Los Angeles created a near-universal wave of pleasure and enthusiasm, however beneath that wave there was an undercurrent of understanding that this roster, at the very least in its present make-up, wasn’t actually championship-ready. So whereas there was some hope that the mixed brilliance of LeBron James and Doncic may make up for a little bit of a misfit roster, ultimately that optimism was largely misplaced.

Whereas the Lakers have been finally unsuccessful of their pursuit of Charlotte Hornets’ beginning Heart Mark Williams, Rob Pelinka clearly is aware of what he wants to perform this offseason. Whereas Jaxson Hayes, Dorian Finney-Smith and Jarred Vanderbilt made up a serviceable sufficient heart rotation throughout the conclusion of the common season, it should not have been all that stunning to see them be rendered largely ineffective in opposition to the bigs of Minnesota—Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid. Doncic wants a beginning caliber heart, and that must be precedence primary heading into the offseason. 

Along with fortifying the Lakers’ front-court rotation, the bench unit may additionally use some beefing up, as head coach JJ Redick clearly had little religion in deploying his second unit for prolonged durations of time. 

Fortunately for the Lakers, they’ve a cornerstone expertise within the prime of his profession in Doncic—the identical can’t be stated in regards to the Mavericks. Whereas the Lakers’ roster is flawed, their path in the direction of enchancment is evident and easy. In actual fact, they might even use the group that Doncic took to the Finals, simply final yr, which Nico Harrison assembled, as a blueprint of find out how to greatest construct a supporting solid for his or her Slovenian celebrity. 

Anybody who’s keen to quote the Lakers’ early-round loss for example of why Nico Harrison and the Mavericks have been proper to maneuver on from Doncic has misplaced the plot. And that might be placing it too politely. Placing latest disappointments apart, it stays much more believable that when the mud has absolutely settled on this historic commerce, the Mavericks relieve Nico Harrison of his duties than the Lakers remorse pulling the set off.