Luka Doncic Discussion: Lean Mean Slovenian Scoring Machine

Luka Dončić's BEST Plays from the 2025-2026 Season

 

End of Season Lakers Grades: Luka Doncic & JJ Redick

 

Luka Dončić invests in Italian team with NBA Europe hopes

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/48910986/luka-dončić-invests-italian-team-nba-europe-hopes

 

Not sure I get the purpose of Europe. Merch?
Hella too far to travel for games in season. Do champions play each other after the NBA Finals?

NBA US
NBA Europe
NBA Africa
NBA Asia

yeah, I just don’t see it. Let the best players come to the U.S. NBA

 

I think Europe would become another league and they wouldn't try to incorporate it into the NBA.

Maybe there could be a sort of Champions League set up where teams play each other instead of the NBA Cup. It would certainly make that cup more exciting. I also imagine they would offset the seasons a little bit so they get a higher span of viewing months.

Imagine older players going to Europe in their 32+ years and then competing in the NBA cup. They just have to show up for a handful of games a year.

 

Yeah, that’s probably a more likely scenario

 

Getting me hyped! I get the feeling that we'll have a couple of nice moves in the offseason and Luka will go on an MVP tear next season.

 

LAKERS SEASON REVIEW: Can Luka Doncic Improve On Impressive Season?

 

By staying healthy

 

How The Lakers Should Build Around Luka Doncic (w/ Iztok Franko)

 

Incoming...Gafford trade to LA. I just have a great feeling that's what is coming.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say 1st round pick 2025, Knecht, and Vando for Gafford.

And trust me when I say that if we get to see him and Luka that will be the deal of a lifetime.

 

I'm also going to say something that may not land well. I also think that Dallas would move PJ Washington. If you want to get a player that can create a dominant force on defense along with Smart and Gafford. That's a stud defensive team that will look great on offense as well. I'm looking to move Rui as a sign and trade. Don't get me wrong. I really like Rui. But, we need defense and PJ is locked up on a 4 year deal and you know without a shadow of a doubt he is a stud next to Luka.

From what the FO is saying I would get Gafford and Washington from Dallas and move on from Rui and LeBron. Resign AR, Smart, Kennard, and Hayes. I would then turn around and S&T Rui (He will need that to get paid and go somewhere he wants to go) and LeBron if he wants to play again. I'm also moving Bronny and moving Ayton to the bench. (I hope he "bets" on himself and turns down the PO but I seriously doubt he will)

This is just my thoughts in line with them saying they want to build what Luka took to the finals. Smart and Kennard would be a huge upgrade to what Luka took to Dallas. AR would be an upgrade to Kyrie just in the fact that he is bigger. Ky really struggled in the playoffs. I know AR did as well. However, he didn't have Luka getting pressure off of him either. Ky struggled with Luka taking pressure off of him. Ky is just too small for a 2 guard and and Boston has his number.

 

i highly doubt the mavs will ever trade with the lakers again

 

yeah, it's too bad, as i'm pretty sure the mavs would be happy to move gafford and washington each for a lotto-protected 1st and limited salary return, just...to anywhere but here, lol.

maybe rob can pull a jhs to utah thing and sneakily grab one of those guys in a three-team deal (or secondary trade).

 

interesting that he identifies herb jones as a pj washington type pickup bc NO is terrible (mentions claxton, too).

mentions coulibaly, which is interesting. he *might* be gettable, and we've worked with washington before. they have a bit of a logjam with young wing/guard types with carrington, tre johnson, and kyshawn george.

that leaves whitmore, coulibaly, the other campagnie, and jaden hardy probably all looking for minutes/opportunities (especially given that young will be there next year).

i'd be interested in all but hardy from that group, and with coulibaly heading into the end of his rookie deal, it's a very similar situation to when we got rui, imo. late lotto pick who hasn't caught on and is at risk of getting squeezed out. we paid three seconds for rui--what would it take to get coulibaly? laravia's contract matches salary, is a lotto-protected pick swap good enough on top of that? is there a larger deal involving vando and a lotto-protected 1st outgoing and coulibaly and whitmore coming back? wizards don't have a vando type guy, and they can be useful in the regular season, especially on a team with low-energy types in the big salary slots.

keegan murray was another interesting guy iztok named.

i generally agree with his takes regarding summer plans, though they won't be popular here (paraphrasing, but he thinks luka and reaves are the only guys that really need to be back, lol).

 

They will. It's a business. If the Mavs have the best offer on the table (which that would be) they will deal. The rule that keeps people rich is never letting your money have emotions. The new GM could care less about anything Nico did. It's a whole new regime with a whole new purpose there. They want to get young and amass picks for a build around Flagg.

Masai will do what's best for the team. There are only about 3 teams interested from what I've heard so far. The deal I put up would be the best they could get in line with their goals. Regardless of what we think Knecht is a shooter. He is very young (Flagg young) and has potential. Add in a pick this year (Dallas is low on assets due to Nico) and Vando who is a young vet at 27 and fills the salary requirement at a modest salary that actually saves Dallas money. It's just a good fit for both teams.

Btw, the Luka deal is more seen as Nico being a controlling idiot rather than anything the Lakers did.

 

Jones is another one I'm interested in. Very much a PJ type player. That's what this team needs. Not just a defender that can shoot but a defender with attitude that can shoot. PJ wasn't afraid to mix it up. Neither is Herb.

People talk about OKC and the Spurs ruling the league. How quickly they forget that Dallas beat that same OKC team with Luka on the way to the finals. They also beat the Knicks this year on that run at the end of the year. You get the right players around Luka and we will contend and win titles.

 

PJ and Gafford would be a fantastic trade. They’re the type of guys we could really use. But I just can’t see it happening.

If we’re trading with Washington, I would hope for Champagnie coming back, he can rebound and defend. If we get his shot right, he is an excellent wing. Coulibaly is also an interesting option too.

 

I think the reason for them not to trade with us is just optics. They were the laughing stock of the NBA for a while and that hurts team value. I think they shouldn't be eager to rehash that.

But I do agree with you that it's a business, it's a new management and they'll be over it. But wouldn't be surprised there's a special "Laker tax" for a couple years where they really want to make sure they win that deal

On top of that, if Luka wins a title with half a line up of the Mavs, it won't look good and they probably have no motivation to help it happen.

I like the names abeer mentioned (haven't seen the video yet but looks like a good one). Washington have some interesting buy-low names. I like Keegan too. And he's a good rebounder and shot blocker so it's really a nice fit. There's just so many names and different routes we can go, it will be a, really interesting offseason

 

it is a business, but you also have teams like the kings and blazers who haven't traded with the lakers for decades and 100% on purpose