The remarkable start of the Luka Dončić era for the Los Angeles Lakers persisted Thursday night as the team triumphed over the New York Knicks with a score of 113-109 in an overtime clash.
Los Angeles has quickly ascended the Western Conference rankings since Dončić was traded to join four-time NBA champion LeBron James on Feb. 2, yet their offensive performance has declined, reflected in their No. 15 ranked 116.1 offensive rating over the past eight games.
Because of the Lakers’ surprising decline in offensive performance, their general manager Rob Pelinka may be starting to focus on the summer, seeking to navigate the offseason trade market. Actually, it is possible that Pelinka might reach out to the Chicago Bulls to ask about a trade for their nimble guard Coby White.
At 25 years of age, the 6-foot-5 guard-combo has become a dependable offensive player since being chosen with the seventh overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by Chicago.
In 56 games this season for the Bulls, White has averaged 18.9 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.4 rebounds, showcasing his star potential as a dynamic scorer and excellent ball-handler.
The Lakers might be interested in White as a potential high-profile trade target because both Dončić and James have found significant success alongside a player of his type, similar to Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks.
Although White doesn’t match the nine-time All-Star and 2016 NBA champion in scoring or ball-handling, his skill set is clearly similar.
If the Lakers acquired White in exchange for a probable package including rookie Dalton Knecht, the salary of either Gabe Vincent or Jarred Vanderbilt, along with draft assets, it is reasonable to think that the talented guard could excel in a setting where he is relied upon to handle the ball and generate his own scoring to alleviate pressure on the team’s star duo.