Luka Doncic Discussion: Lean Mean Slovenian Machine

That’s what upsets me. Since LeBron has been here the Lakers seem to prioritize selling tickets over actual winning. I dare not speak these words lightly. They’re getting names like LeBron, AD, Luka, Westbrook, and role players but these aren’t actually the right pieces together to win deep playoff games. We’ve fired numerous coaches during this time. No commitment to a system or continuity of coaching and culture. It was run differently with Dr buss. Even Jim Buss and Kupchack attempted to put the right pieces and consistent coaching around Kobe from 2008 until his Achilles injury. If Luka is the guy he needs a costar who covers his weaknesses and I say getting that guy is priority #1.

 

Well we did win a Championship with Lebron and AD. They just couldn't seem to stay healthy at the same time for awhile.

Big picture here, Luka is actually Lebron's replacement, we just had to use AD to get him. We don't get any significant cap relief if Lebron retired tomorrow. There isn't any MLE signing out there, better than a 41 year old Lebron James.

If I was calling the shots, I would be willing to give up everyone, outside of Lebron and Luka, this summer, in order to find Luka's costar.

If we can't pull that off, look for an upgrade at 5, and any other position that we feel is a better fit.

 

We can’t get Luka’s running mate because we don’t have enough draft capital. Your best chance is Rui, Reaves, Knecht and a 1st plus whatever swaps we can give - that’s about 40m in salary.

You might be able to get Sabonis for that. I don’t think Giannis would be in play for us. We could probably get Durant too, but he is a 1-2 year piece not a long term one.

 

We don't need to find a player, that's going to play the rest of thier career with Luka either. He might not be available. Like I said. A Sabonis or KD are moving on down the line. Their salaries could be flipped for the next guy afterwards. Either of those two are enough, coupled with another year of Lebron.

I'd make a play for Zion ...his trade value should be significantly lower than his talent level. Cheaper contract to boot.

 

I forgot Zion, he’s get able for Reaves, Knecht and Rui plus a 1st. But he doesn’t fit so well with Lebron - they both play their best at PF.

I’d consider it if we got to keep Reaves and sent off Gabe and Shake instead.

 

Lebron is almost done though, I think he'd be more than happy, to adjust his game next to Zion. James is really only a PF on defense. He could float around the perimeter launching 3's, while Zion is battering the paint, like he used to be able to do.


Austin is my dude, along with Rui and Vando. but if those 3 snagged Zion? The Pelicans would just have to become my 2nd team.

 

If you can't build a championship contender around Luka, you shouldn't work around basketball. Go sell hot dogs or wash some cars. Can Pelinka do it... i have my doubts unfortunately.

 

i think rob can do it. like always, we do need teams to play ball, and they really won't want to. at least one good trade this summer, and we may need to pull a rabbit out of a hat in FA (just need one guy to take a little less to play a big role on the lakers, malik monk style.

 

you don't need luka to be a great defender in order to have success

just as long as he's playing acceptable defense. his main issue is defending at the top of they key. too many times edwards blew right past him. whether that's conditioning, injury, or just effort, he needs to improve on that

 

There were mistakes all around. Reeves dribbled off of his foot a couple of times, LeBron made some poor choices, Luka not getting back down the floor. Luka was dealing with a lot of pain from the hard foul from Dante.

The way to make a complete success of this is to get a 5 that can protect the rim and roll. They need depth for the bench and some wings that can shoot and defend. The Mavs made the finals with that.

 

7th NBA season into his career , he's who he is ...

 

He clearly can improve on quickness just by dropping weight - he's in his athletic prime. Will he or won't he again we can't know but there is a path to significant improvement for him

 

Certain things you cannot teach or speak into existence. Luka athletic ability is limited. Haven't we all played against more athletic people and they blow by us and there is nothing you can do about it. Hence when the Mavs built a wall of defenders behind him. The only thing we can hope for is his conditioning and diet.

 

the mavs had success because they avoided putting him in positions where he's defending one of the closest things to prime michael jordan we've seen in years on an island.

same way the nuggets have found ways (primarily via personnel and scheme) to keep teams from just putting jokic on skates every trip down. you think jokic wouldn't get zubac'd/gobert'd left and right if denver didn't bend over backwards finding ways to avoid it? it's not because other teams aren't trying to get him in space against faster guys.

 

It's a matter of degrees though. He's never will be an Edwards like athlete but the weight has clearly impacted his athletic ability.

He can barely dunk anymore and he was a guy who once once able to put person on a poster. That's huge change!

Both Michael Jordan and Lebron James worked extremely hard on their bodies and it's weird how there is a camp where Luka can seem to do no wrong in terms of his shape beyond just being able to get out of breathe less.