DALLAS – Some media outlets seem fixated on the idea that the Los Angeles Lakers are destined to land every major star, especially those who haven’t won an NBA championship—something the Lakers have done many times, though not recently. Despite Luka Doncic winning Western Conference Finals MVP and leading the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024—making them closer to a title than the Lakers—his name continues to surface in trade rumors, with the Lakers as a possible destination.
While Doncic has expressed a desire to follow in Dirk Nowitzki’s footsteps by staying with the Mavericks, some speculate that he might eventually seek a move. But would a move to L.A. make sense? The Ringer’s NBA analyst, Kevin O’Connor, previously reported that the Lakers are interested in Doncic, though he questions the timing of revisiting this scenario.
LeBron James is Doncic’s favorite player, which makes the Lakers an appealing topic. But do the Lakers really have the resources to pursue Doncic? And could GM Rob Pelinka outmaneuver Mavs general manager Nico Harrison? Given the Mavericks’ current success, it seems unlikely that Doncic would leave Dallas, especially since he’s eligible for a historic five-year, $346.3 million contract, which only Dallas can offer.
It’s attention-grabbing to speculate about the Lakers landing Doncic, but there’s no solid evidence that he wants to make that move.
