The Los Angeles Lakers used the Mavericks' blueprint to build their first roster around Luka Doncic, but they failed to add the 3-and-D forward who helped push Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024. It was a slow process for the Mavs, but trading for PJ Washington was necessary. He replaced years of Dorian Finney-Smith and Maxi Kleber. Washington was the Mavs’ third-leading scorer in the playoffs, and Dallas doesn’t defeat the top-seeded Thunder without his defense and shot-making.
Luka spent six and a half years with the Mavs. He quickly lifted them out of a rebuild, but there were two first-round playoff exits before their breakthrough. Jalen Brunson becoming his co-star in the backcourt got them to the conference finals in 2022. Following that run, Brunson exited for New York, and it took two more years for the Mavs to reach the NBA Finals. Kyrie was in the Brunson role, and it was a midseason trade for Washington that gave Dallas the missing piece to make that run. It took the Mavericks years to add the needed athleticism and versatile defense at the four.
The Lakers checked several boxes this summer. They got Luka the rim-protecting big man he wanted in Walker Kessler. Los Angeles added youth and athleticism. The front office focused on finding shooters to help Doncic maximize his game. All of those were key parts of the 2024 Mavericks, but Dallas doesn’t reach the finals without an athletic 3-and-D forward who stepped up in the biggest moments.
Lakers’ first build around Luka Doncic is missing the 3-and-D forward
Doncic fell into the Lakers’ laps. Nobody expected the Mavericks to trade their superstar months after he led them to the NBA Finals. The Lakers needed time to build around Luka after the shocking trade, and this summer was the first real chance.
Los Angeles let LeBron James, Rui Hachimura, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Jaxson Hayes, Maxi Kleber, and Nick Smith Jr. walk in free agency. They traded starting center Deandre Ayton to make it eight departures from a squad that reached the second round of the playoffs after Luka was injured. The goal of building around Doncic was clear, and the front office deemed those players didn’t fit.
The Lakers added Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Collin Sexton, Cameron Carr, Kevon Looney, and Jaden Hardy. There are more moves to come. They know they need a starting power forward with athleticism and the ability to defend multiple positions. That is why their interest in Jonathan Kuminga makes perfect sense, and this could just be a way of trying to get Washington off the Mavericks.
Luka wants to win now. He led his team to the NBA Finals in 2024 and is eager to bring home his first championship. The Lakers must put the right pieces around him, and the missing piece is the same one that took Dallas five years to find.
The Los Angeles Lakers are following the Dallas Mavericks blueprint to building around Luka Doncic, but they need the final piece of the puzzle. PJ Washington was the third-leading scorer in the playoffs and made key plays on both ends of the floor in Dallas’ finals run. The Lakers don’t have that player.
Rob Pelinka has work to do, and the Lakers' title dreams hinge on finding the missing piece. All fans can do is hope the purple and gold make another bold move this summer.
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