Lakers Expected to Pursue Former Luka Doncic Teammate in Trade This Summer<\/p>\n
The Los Angeles Lakers are determined to push forward this season in hopes of securing another championship. With star players Luka Doncic and LeBron James leading the charge, the Lakers are optimistic about their chances this year.<\/p>\n
However, the team has a noticeable weakness, especially in the frontcourt, where they lack depth. Since trading away star big man Anthony Davis, the Lakers have been experimenting with various lineups to cope with the absence of a true starting center. While Jaxson Hayes has performed well, the Lakers may still need more help if they want to succeed.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, they likely won\u2019t be able to address this issue until the offseason. Still, one insider suggests the Lakers could target a former teammate of Doncic to fill this gap.<\/p>\n
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has named Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford as a potential trade target for the Lakers. Gafford and Doncic had great chemistry together in Dallas, and Gafford could provide the Lakers with exactly what they need.<\/p>\n
“The Lakers have already landed their dream target in Luka Don\u010di\u0107, but the franchise is always aiming higher. If Antetokounmpo demands a trade, a combination of salaries, talent, and picks could bring him to LA. It\u2019s a long shot, but it would be foolish to leave him off their wish list. Otherwise, LA is unlikely to trade key players like Reaves or Hachimura. Instead, expect them to target a center, possibly using Knecht as trade bait\u2014similar to the failed Mark Williams trade with the Charlotte Hornets (the Lakers didn\u2019t clear Williams’ physical).”<\/p>\n
Acquiring Gafford won\u2019t be straightforward, as he plays a crucial role for the Mavericks. However, Dallas explored the possibility of trading Gafford before this season\u2019s trade deadline, so there may be an opportunity.<\/p>\n
Doncic is well-acquainted with Gafford, and the big man would be an ideal fit for the Lakers. Gafford has proven his ability to defend while also contributing offensively, making him a great addition.<\/p>\n
If the Lakers are serious about contending, they will certainly explore what it would take to acquire Gafford from Dallas this summer. The team is likely to pursue a center this offseason, and Gafford could be the perfect complement to their star players.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lakers Expected to Pursue Former Luka Doncic Teammate in Trade This Summer The Los Angeles Lakers are determined to push forward this season in hopes of securing another championship. With star players Luka Doncic and LeBron James leading the charge, the Lakers are optimistic about their chances this year. However, the team has a noticeable […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2586],"tags":[256],"class_list":["post-28192","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lakers","tag-la-lakers"],"yoast_head":"\n