The Los Angeles Lakers are in the process of being sold to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, and the new owners need to empower the front office to trade for a starting power forward to keep Luka Doncic happy. LA's superstar wants to win a championship this season. Their offseason retool is one piece short. The Lakers let LeBron James walk and completely retooled around Doncic and Austin Reaves. This is Luka’s team, but the hole at the four will prevent LA from being a serious title contender. The new owners should quickly fix that.
The Lakers are light on assets. They have just three second-round draft picks and one first-round swap to trade. More importantly, at the ownership level, the purple and gold are flirting with paying the luxury tax. They are just $469,322 over the tax line and would save millions by dodging it. The new owners will have a decision. Do they take millions of dollars or improve their odds of winning a title?
Rob Pelinka is clearly building around Luka. He signed Reaves, Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, and Sandro Mamukelashvili to long-term deals in hopes of this being the core for multiple years. The ownership change may alter that plan, but the new regime must find the Lakers a starting power forward.
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger should already be eyeing the Lakers’ missing piece
The sale has been agreed to, but the new duo must wait to be approved by the NBA’s Board of Governors before taking over. There will be questions from the fans, but Kushner and Iger can quickly silence them by building out the front office and making a swift trade.
The Lakers were rumored to be chasing Jonathan Kuminga in free agency, but he decided to join the Minnesota Timberwolves on a shorter-term deal. That interest could return next summer, but LA can’t wait that long.
They have long been rumored to be interested in PJ Washington. Luka had PJ playing his best basketball during the Mavericks’ 2024 NBA Finals run. The Mavs are rebuilding around Cooper Flagg and could have Washington on the trade block before the deadline.
The Lakers will be in the rumors for names like Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, De’Andre Hunter, and whoever else is available at the four. Kushner and Iger should already be empowering the front office to explore the fits and make the deal for the player who gives LA the best shot to win a championship.
Lakers can’t afford to wait with a prime Luka Doncic
Doncic is in the middle of his prime. The 27-year-old led Dallas to the NBA Finals in 2024 and has topped the NBA in scoring in two of the last three years. He is at the peak of his powers, and LA shouldn’t waste this opportunity. The team is built around Luka. They will be better with Doncic maximizing the role players. The Lakers just need this final piece of the puzzle.
Kushner and Iger could instantly endear themselves to the fan base by making a bold trade the moment they take charge. Getting a starting power forward has been on fans' minds since early July. They will keep thinking about it all through training camp. This splash would have supporters excited and maximize Los Angeles’ title odds.
Luka has dealt with injuries for two straight years. Fans know number 77 is an unstoppable offensive force and raises his team’s ceiling in the playoffs. The Lakers are all-in on him and cannot afford to waste this shot. At best, Luka may have six or seven more chances to be the best player on a title team. LA should not waste those opportunities.
The Los Angeles Lakers' new owners should trade for a starting power forward as their first move in charge. Finding a difference-making four puts LA in the conversation with the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in the crowded Western Conference. Josh Kushner and Bob Iger could make an immediate splash and win over the fans. All they have to do is pay the luxury tax and get the purple and gold the final piece they need to chase an 18th banner.
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