The Los Angeles Lakers may have fallen short of their championship expectations this season, but the organization is already making it clear that Luka Doncic is the cornerstone of everything going forward.
With a big season ahead, Lakers president of basketball Rob Pelinka revealed that the franchise is already in contact with Doncic as they work on roster plans for next season. The Lakers are expected to be aggressive in reshaping the roster around their star point guard through trade, free agency and the NBA Draft.
“I think the key word is that it’s a continuous, collaborative process,” Pelinka said at the end-of-season press conference. “It’s not like, ‘Hey, I want X, Y and Z.’ So we keep in touch with him and his team. I plan to see her before she goes home to spend time with her daughters. We are going to meet, I think on Friday or Saturday, for an ongoing dialogue.
“He’s a great teammate. His basketball IQ on the court is something we’re starting to see as fans. JJ and I are starting to see his knowledge of basketball in terms of other players in the league, how he wants to play and who he wants to play with. His knowledge base is huge, so those who paint and work with him are really inspiring. He also does it in a great way to let JJ do his best job and let me do his best job where he wants me to do it. My job is good so they’re conversations.” producing themselves through that lens.
The Lakers are expected to prioritize getting a secondary creator alongside Doncic, and Austin Reaves is considered a long-term fit after the chemistry the pair has shown throughout the season, according to Matthew Peralta of Lakers Nation.
The team is reportedly looking for a rim-rushing center and a reliable two-way wing who can defend at a high level while still knocking down perimeter shots.
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