The Los Angeles Lakers spent the entirety of the Anthony Davis era searching for answers at the point guard position. Unfortunately, when the Lakers finally landed on a long-term resolution, it was Davis who was traded for the perfect fit: Luka Doncic.
There are a surplus of reasons to be grateful for Doncic, but Los Angeles' latest reason may be its most surprising to date: Not being a part of the current James Harden sweepstakes.
BREAKING: The Los Angeles Clippers are trading James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Prolific swap of the star point guards. pic.twitter.com/IHhhhabJnX
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2026
Los Angeles traded a surplus of first-round draft picks for imperfect and short-term fits at the point guard position. Those short-lived deals landed D'Angelo Russell, Dennis Schröder, and Russell Westbrook, none of whom fit beyond a pair of seasons.
As such, Doncic's arrival has not only given the Lakers a new franchise player, but provided the organization with a way out of a flawed approach.
Had Los Angeles not acquired Doncic, history suggests they'd still be in the market for an answer at point guard. In that scenario, they'd inevitably find themselves in the hunt for Harden as a potential answer to their woes.
Thankfully, rather than betting on a 36-year-old Harden as another potential short-term answer, they have a 26-year-old Doncic leading the future of the franchise.
Luka Doncic means Lakers don't need to go in on James Harden
Harden is a Hall of Fame talent who has accomplished just about everything short of winning a championship. He's a former MVP, three-time scoring champion, and two-time assists leader who has earned eight All-NBA nods during his illustrious career.
For as intriguing as that may be to consider, Harden is still 36 years of age and, unless Father Time has completely abandoned his post, potentially closer to retirement than his prime.
Thankfully, the Lakers have a 26-year-old franchise player who has developed a reputation as one of the best big-game players in the NBA. Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to the 2022 Western Conference Finals and 2024 NBA Finals, each time dominating in key spots.
That includes the fact that, in 2024, he became the first player in NBA history to lead all players in points, rebounds, assists, and steals across a full postseason.
As such, rather than having to compete for Harden on the trade market, the Lakers can confidently proceed with the point guard position safely resolved. They not only have a superstar in Doncic, but a rising star in Austin Reaves who can score and facilitate at a remarkable level.
Harden will have a chance to thrive with the Cavaliers, but the Lakers have been spared the need for a trade deadline miracle and the risk of a Harden disaster.