Many franchises, including ones run far better than the Los Angles Lakers, have tried to balance two timelines before. The result is often the same: it does not work. Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office cannot fall into that trap.
The matter was discussed during a recent segment of NBA Today on ESPN. Bobby Marks urged Los Angeles to really consider what is in front of them in this current contention window.
Marks said, "They're in the conversation when we're talking about some of these top teams in the Western Conference. ... That's going to be the most challenging thing this year is the two timeline approach. [It's] win now versus the future."
Jorge Sedano, the host of the segment, chimed in after the NBA analyst made his point, stating the 'very delicate dance' that faces the Lakers with trying to do both. The fact of the matter is, they should not be navigating those circumstances.
Two timelines means zero championships in Los Angeles
No one is suggesting the Lakers should go in to the point of no return. Maintaining some form of flexibility, as Pelinka has tried to do, can help the franchise remain a consistent threat while Luka Doncic is in the mix.
However, there are few more obvious paths to true title contention with the Slovenian superstar than maximizing this current window. The Lakers, as Marks said, are knocking on the door of the upper echelon of the Western Conference. They need a breakthrough this season or next.
Why the urgency? That much should be obvious. The answer is LeBron James.
A lot of focus has been put on the 2027 free agency period as an opportunity for the Lakers to secure their next superstar. However, putting all stock into the potential availability of Nikola Jokic or Giannis Antetokounmpo could prove to be incredibly foolish.
How many better second options are there really going to be than LeBron, even at his advanced age? In the immediate availability of what the Lakers could realistically secure, the answer is few, if any.
James did not drop any major hints about retirement at Lakers Media Day. That should be a good sign that the window with him and Doncic can be a multi-year one. That may be all they get. That may be the best shot at a championship for Luka in Los Angeles.
Balancing two timelines is a nice luxury to have, if properly set up for it. The Lakers are not. They must choose one or the other. The answer as to the better option here should not require a rocket scientist to solve.