ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported on Tuesday that Luka Dončić supported the Los Angeles Lakers' deadline plan. The team's lone trade was sending Gabe Vincent and a second-round pick to the Hawks for Luke Kennard, who is on an expiring contract. Although they currently sit No. 5 in the West, they're still focused on the future.
As McMenamin wrote, Rob Pelinka said the Lakers were "aggressive" at the deadline, but in the sense of "saying no to moves" that could've been a "quick short-term fix," but may not have fit the vision for the future. The future, of course, revolves around Dončić, who signed an extension last summer.
McMenamin added that Luka hasn't "pushed the team to add a superstar-level co-star for when [LeBron] James is no longer on the roster."
Los Angeles could add that superstar this summer, though, if Giannis Antetokounmpo actually decides to leave Milwaukee. McMenamin reported that the Lakers believe they will be one of the teams "on a very short list" for the 31-year-old. So, in other words, a quiet deadline could lead to a chaotic summer full of rumors in LA.
Dončić understands the Lakers' decision to continue prioritizing their future financial flexibility, but we know he is eager to return to the NBA Finals.
Luka Dončić was on board with the Lakers' trade deadline strategy
Los Angeles is eyeing several players whom it could get in free agency, including Peyton Watson, who will be a restricted free agent. There isn't a bigger-name player than Giannis, though. He will be eligible to sign an extension with Milwaukee on Oct. 1, and if he lets the Bucks know he isn't planning to do that, a trade could finally happen.
There is a world in which the Lakers not only land Luka, giving them their perfect post-LeBron star, but they could get Antetokounmpo, too. It's not a given that LeBron will leave this summer in unrestricted free agency, but it feels like the writing is on the wall. Getting Giannis would help ease that pain, though.
Talk about LA getting lucky, although it would come at a price, one that could involve parting with Austin Reaves, who turned down an $89.2 million extension before the summer, opting to wait until he's eligible to sign a bigger deal this summer. If Giannis isn't on the table, expect the Lakers to try to get a deal done with Reaves.
From there, the front office will try to construct the best possible roster around Luka. They don't need to win a championship to prove they won the Dončić trade, but they need to take advantage of getting the superstar on a steal of a deal by winning a championship with him at the helm.
Los Angeles didn't think a deal was on the table to help it get there, but one (or more) could be this summer, whether it be on the trade market or in free agency.