There are plenty of voices with great influence in Los Angeles, and one of the newest seems to be getting his point across.
Luka Doncic was not looking to join the abundance of stars in Hollywood when he arrived in a February trade.
He seemed to tread lightly at first, lacking the precision focus that helped him build his legend, and essentially admitted that the adjustment from the heart of the Dallas Mavericks franchise to becoming the short- and long-term savior of the Lakers was going to take some time.
The adjustment curve might not be all that long after all.
Where LeBron James was the core around which the Lakers revolved, Doncic has assumed much of that heavy gravitational pull now.
James agreed to return in June on a one-year, $52.6 million player option, while admitting he is well aware the torch is being passed to Doncic—whether he wants it to be that way or not.
“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future,” James’ agent Rich Paul told ESPN when news broke that James would be back in Los Angeles for a record 23rd NBA season, with his 41st birthday approaching just before New Year’s Eve.
“We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive, and want what’s best for him.”
While the Lakers have done what they thought was best—within financial restrictions—to put a winner around James, the focus has shifted toward putting a winner around the 26-year-old Doncic.
The Lakers’ future that James’ agent referenced? It will be led by a point guard in a forward’s body, who shoots without fear and has court vision like no other.
New additions like center Deandre Ayton and guard Marcus Smart are viewed as Doncic pursuits. Ayton might not appeal to a lot of NBA franchises, but with Doncic’s pick-and-roll prowess, he could be a solid fit on a Lakers roster in need of a big man who won’t get pushed around.
In Smart, the Lakers now have a defensive-minded guard who can shoot and help prevent opponents from exposing Doncic’s weaknesses without the ball.
Even an addition like 6-foot-8 forward Jake LaRavia is being connected to Doncic as a player who has a chance to blossom in the star’s presence.
But more time with Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves in the starting unit is where the Lakers should take a step forward. The foursome of Doncic, James, Hachimura and Reaves will play with Ayton and sometimes Jaxson Hayes in the middle.
By all indications, Doncic is fully invested in Los Angeles now. Where reports indicated that the Mavericks decided to move on from their star because of fitness issues, his new role with the Lakers apparently has inspired him to a diet and fitness regimen that has a chance to take the Lakers back to former heights.
At the very least, a focus on health can help Doncic avoid recent soft-tissue issues like the calf strain that had him out of action when the trade went down. His 50 games played last season between both Dallas and Los Angeles were the fewest of his seven NBA seasons.
Maybe the Mavericks were foolish not to wait for Doncic to commit himself to fitness. Although, perhaps a commitment to diet and exercise never would have happened if the fitness element wasn’t such a significant part of the trade postmortem.
Amid all of it, James’ return to the Lakers is the ultimate seal of approval. James’ agent admitted that chances for another championship are fleeting. This could end up being the final attempt.
Maybe $52.6 million would have convinced him to return for one more season in L.A. anyway, but a fellow star dedicating himself to the cause and recruiting pieces in his vision can’t be overlooked.
When James was the key recruiter for the Lakers—searching for the parts to make his game flow—it brought with it a burden that was both physical and mental. Much of that is lifted now.
James can focus on basketball and work on his own fitness to remain healthy through a long season at an advanced age.
Expect James to still have drive, even as the offseason has shown that he is handing the keys over to somebody else now. Loosening your grip is never easy, but it becomes less complicated when mutual respect flows.
