The Los Angeles Lakers have not given Luka Doncic the rim-running center he wanted when the franchise acquired him in February 2025. The purple and gold claim to be building around Luka and trying to win another championship, but they are failing their star.
Rob Pelinka and the front office traded for Mark Williams just days after acquiring Doncic. He seemed like the ideal rim protector and lob threat to pair with number 77, but the trade was rescinded after questions about Williams' physical. Nixing the deal has aged like milk for the Lakers. Los Angeles has no trusted option at the five, and Williams is anchoring the surprise Suns into the playoffs.
The Lakers' problems are self-created. They signed Deandre Ayton after failed stints in Phoenix and Portland. The organization knew Jaxson Hayes was not the answer after last year. Still, he looks like the superior option to Ayton. It is a failure by the purple and gold to not give one of the best players in the world the thing he needs to send his game to another level.
Lakers have failed to get Luka Doncic a trusted center option
Doncic led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals using a simple formula. They put shooting and defense around the superstar creator. Dallas had Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford at the five. Both players were capable of protecting the rim and thriving as a roll man. Luka makes any center look better, but only if his team gives him an athletic option that buys into the role.
Rob Pelinka did improve the Lakers' floor spacing at the deadline with the Luke Kennard trade. Credit to him for recognizing one weakness, but the purple and gold have blatantly ignored others, including the piece Doncic asked for the moment he arrived in LA after the stunning trade.
Finding a center isn’t easy, but the Celtics are thriving after trading Kristaps Porzingis and letting Al Horford and Luke Kornet walk in free agency. Neemias Queta has blossomed into their starter after being fourth string last season.
The Lakers would love to have Nikola Jokic, but Luka is not asking for him. Dallas traded a first-round draft pick and a seldom-used big man to get Gafford. Los Angeles is said to be preserving assets for this summer to remake the team around Luka, but wasting a year of his prime makes no sense. They had a first-round pick and a clear need for the thing their superstar wants.
The Lakers are putting themselves on the clock. Doncic wants to win a championship, and the franchise has made little progress in putting the pieces around him in year one. The pressure is on to make significant upgrades this summer. The purple and gold failed to grant Luka’s request so far. Doing so again this summer would be a grave mistake.
The Los Angeles Lakers still can’t believe they lucked into a prime Luka Doncic. He is one of the five best players in the world and an unstoppable offensive engine. LA has the most difficult piece in building a title contender. Now, they needed to add the right players around him, including a rim-protecting center. This is a situation to watch this summer. Hopefully, the Lakers don’t fail Luka again, but only time will tell the tale.