Luka Dončić Arrives as a Laker

The Luka Dončić Era is upon us, as the newest superstar to come to the Lakers is set to make his debut tonight against the Utah Jazz. Dončić has been out since Christmas Day, where he suffered a calf strain while still on the Mavericks, and is probable to make his return tonight.

Front Court Rotation

Over the weekend it was announced that the Lakers rescinded the trade that would have seen Hornets center Mark Williams join the Lakers in exchange for Dalton Knencht, Cam Reddish, the 2031 first round pick and a 2030 pick swap. An official reason for why the trade was rescinded hasn’t been given, but multiple reports say that Williams didn’t pass his physical.

Now, with the trade deadline past, the Lakers are short of options at the center position. They have no roster spots available, so they’ll need to waive someone if they want to make additions via the buyout market. The Lakers have found success playing small at the 5 and shown some defensive versatility lately, so perhaps that is what JJ Redick will choose to lean on. Jaxson Hayes has also played well during this stretch, making him seem like a real option at center for Los Angeles.

LeBron and Luka

There is a huge amount of excitement with Luka Dončić and LeBron James playing alongside each other for the first time tonight, but the duo will need time to gel together. The Lakers have two unbelievable talents, which always brings the potential of a deep playoff run, but both will need time to figure it out. It will also mean different roles for the supporting cast, including some significant rotation changes to bring better balance to the Lakers’ lineups. They undoubtedly have a lot of potential but patience might be needed. Tip off is at 7PM PST.