The commerce taking Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers has energized the NBA, at a second when offers appeared more durable than ever to execute.
Rob Pelinka and Nico Harrison labored in secrecy for round three weeks to execute the commerce, because the pair have individually revealed of their press conferences.
Luka Doncic had appeared like being on the Dallas Mavericks for all times, earlier than being traded away at simply 25-years-old, in a transfer that challenges the Slovenian to now show his former group mistaken.
Negotiations went within the Lakers favor, however there was one question the group had, a fear about whether or not Doncic will ultimately recommit to the group in 2026.
It’s as much as the Lakers to construct round Doncic and make the group really feel at residence, however for now, it is a second of optimism for the group, and no actual cause to fret about him not sticking round.
The Luka Doncic contract doubt will nag on the Lakers. He isn’t eligible for a supermax extension as a result of commerce, that means that financially, all groups have an equal shot at him if he hits free company in 2026.
Might that, then imply Luka Doncic might group up with fellow European celebrity Nikola Jokic on the Denver Nuggets?
The duo have remodeled the NBA over the previous few years, and simply final week Patrick Beverley was on document expressing pleasure they might in the future get to play collectively.
CBS Sports activities’ Sam Quinn responded to the Doncic and Jokic query relating to the Nuggets, and flipped it the opposite approach – suggesting the massive Serbian middle might be part of the LA Lakers in 2027.
Quinn defined: “I do know folks don’t need to hear this… However Jokic solely turns into eligible free of charge company one yr later than Luka does.
“The Lakers have a lot cleaner books than the Nuggets. LA tends to be extra fascinating than Denver.
“In the event that they had been to companion up, it could most likely be as Lakers.”
Whether or not the NBA ever will get to see Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic collectively is unclear. However who would have thought we might see Doncic and LeBron James play collectively?
It’s definitely with Doncic’s grasp to make it occur with Jokic in Denver if he actually needed to, and if there was wage feasibility to take action.
But when he’s just a bit extra affected person, Nikola Jokic might head to LA. What higher piece so as to add round Doncic than the perfect participant within the NBA, maybe coinciding at a time when LeBron James has lastly retired?
It appears unthinkable, and Denver would combat tooth and nail to cease the four-times MVP hitting free company in any respect.
However who is aware of? The previous week has taught us as soon as once more, to assume huge.
