After the Los Angeles Lakers traded for superstar Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, they immediately followed with another significant move by trading for center Mark Williams. Though the trade was ultimately rescinded, Doncic reportedly wanted the team to bring in another big man to help the team.
ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported: "What is clear is that Doncic will have a say. And it wasn't lost on James' camp, sources said, that Pelinka prioritized Doncic's involvement upon his arrival and immediately engaged in the Williams trade that he'd asked for, when James had for years wanted the team to trade its picks to improve its roster."
Up until the trade for Doncic, the Lakers had received criticism for not making enough roster moves to improve the team, especially after a quiet trade deadline last year. With Doncic on the team, the team already went after a second major trade.
It certainly makes sense for the Lakers to prioritize building around Doncic and maximizing the window of a generational superstar, but it's also not surprising to see this reportedly turn heads in James's camp. Though the Lakers pulled off a massive trade to acquire Davis the year after James joined the team, they haven't necessarily made enough impact acquisitions in the following seasons.
Prior to the trade for Doncic, James called the Lakers' margin for error "slim" due to the team's roster construction. Even Davis was calling for the Lakers to add another "big" before Los Angeles wound up trading him.
The Lakers have responded, but their recent moves seem to be a response to acquiring Doncic, not what James and Davis have seemingly called for.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Lakers Move for Luka Doncic's Trade Target Turned Heads in LeBron's Camp, Insider Says.
