NBA Pacific

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka acknowledged the roster still has one glaring weakness despite the arrival of Luka Dončić in one of the biggest blockbusters in NBA history.

During Dončić's introductory press conference on Tuesday, Pelinka told reporters that "we know that our roster has continued work to do to be complete," and he cited adding another center specifically.

Rob Pelinka: “We know that our roster has continued work to do to be complete. … We’re going to build a roster that fits JJ Redick’s basketball philosophy. … We know we have a need for a big. The market for a big … is very dry.” Pelinka adds they’re looking at marginal moves.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 4, 2025

Pelinka: "We know we have a need for a big." He says the market is "dry" for big men and expects a "move around the margins" between now and Thursday. A bigger move in the offseason. Pelinka says he will consult with JJ Redick on roster moves that fit his coaching vision. https://t.co/J1yUwDb777

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 4, 2025

At this point, we can't totally rule out Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić or even Victor Wembanyama winding up in Southern California. Nothing's off the table when the Mavericks willingly give up a transcendent talent on a Hall of Fame trajectory.

Once the shock subsided, one immediate reaction from the Dončić/Davis trade was that the Lakers really need another center.

Right now, Los Angeles is looking at Jaxson Hayes as the starting 5, with Trey Jemison III behind him as the backup. Hayes is averaging 5.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 0.9 blocks through 26 appearances, while Jamison has logged a total of 36 minutes with the team since signing a two-way contract in January.

Pelinka somehow managed to get Dončić while retaining some valuable assets that can facilitate another impactful trade. The Lakers can move their 2031 first-round pick right now, and the pair of Austin Reaves and Dalton Knecht could be attractive to outside suitors.

Any combination of the three could be leveraged to help Los Angeles reinforce its frontcourt.

Pelinka cites versatility, mobility, a vertical lob threat and competitiveness as skills/traits the Lakers are coveting in a potential center at the deadline.

“We’ll find a way,” Pelinka said.

— Jovan Buha (@jovanbuha) February 4, 2025

However, Pelinka may not be feeling the kind of urgency he was this time last week.

Even if the Lakers take a step backward this season, Dončić's arrival significantly altered the organization's timeline and long-term outlook. The incentive to go all in and chase a championship right now is a lot less.

For as much as L.A. could clearly use an upgrade at the 5, The Athletic's Fred Katz, Joe Vardon and Sam Amick reported Monday that "not many centers whose names are prevalent on the market appeal to them." To that end, the Lakers "have no plans to give their best remaining draft asset away for a patch-up role player."

If push comes to shove, it's far more sensible to make do with Hayes and Jamison if it means leaving the door open for the pursuit of another star in the summer.

Add Anthony Davis to the list of people who was stunned to learn he was being traded by the Los Angeles Lakers to the Dallas Mavericks in a package for Luka Dončić.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday during the Mavs' shootaround in Philadelphia, Davis said "I was shocked" upon learning of the trade from the Lakers.

Anthony Davis on his initial reaction to the trade:

“I was shocked. I didn’t know. I was actually at home, about to watch a movie with my wife and got the phone call. I had no idea….Now I’m kind of over it and just getting ready to play with Dallas.” pic.twitter.com/IVdzsHFzGA

— Mike Curtis (@MikeACurtis2) February 4, 2025

Now, Davis will team up with Kyrie Irving in Dallas, a partnership the big man is "very excited" about.

"Me and [Kyrie] talked about this, I think, in 2018 when I asked for a trade from New Orleans," Davis told reporters. "He was in Boston at the time. He ended up leaving and going to Brooklyn. But we have wanted to play alongside each other for a very long time. Now, we have an opportunity to do so."

Davis also told reporters why he waived his $6 million trade kicker to facilitate the deal.

"Trying to help the team," Davis said, per ESPN's Tim Bontemps. "Obviously you always want to get better [and] losing a monumental piece like Luka ... it's a lot, right? So I'm just trying to do my part and help Nico [Harrison] and the organization on how we can continuously get better."

It's not an exaggeration to say no one in the world outside of Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka, Mavs general manager Nico Harrison, the governors of both organizations and maybe a few other people had any insight into what was happening before it was announced.

One way we know this to be true is ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon reported Utah Jazz CEO Danny Ainge, whose team was a third party in the trade to make the finances work, "didn't know Dončić and Davis were a part of the deal until about an hour before it was completed."

The Lakers had things on lockdown to the point that LeBron James didn't learn about it until he was out with friends and family in New York City following Saturday's game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

LeBron James learned of the Davis-Doncic trade after the Knicks game when it broke while he was out to dinner with his family, sources close to James told ESPN. James was surprised by the news, is processing it and had no idea it was in the works, sources said.

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 2, 2025

Davis didn't seem to have too much of an issue with the trade. He waived his $6 million trade bonus that keeps the Mavs just under the luxury tax and gives them flexibility if they want to make additional moves prior to Thursday's trade deadline.

The wait for Davis to make his Mavs debut will take a little longer due to an abdominal strain he suffered in a 118-104 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Jan. 28. He said he could return for Thursday's game against the Boston Celtics or Saturday against the Houston Rockets.

Davis is averaging 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game in 42 starts for the Lakers this season. The Mavs have lost 13 of their last 19 games since Dec. 28, all without Dončić due to a calf injury.

Newly acquired Los Angeles Lakers star guard Luka Dončić is looking forward to sharing the floor with legendary forward LeBron James.

During his introductory press conference on Tuesday after being traded from the Dallas Mavericks, Dončić told reporters it's "just like a dream come true" to be James' teammate.

"I always look up to him. ... It's an amazing feeling," he added.

Dončić also paid homage to the late Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi, saying, "I wish Kobe and Gigi were here to see this moment."

The Slovenian superstar also admitted he's still adjusting to being with a new team following the shocking trade.

"That first day was really hard ... I feel like the last 48 hours was one month," Dončić told reporters.

Dončić also indicated that he's still not over how he was shipped out of Dallas, but added that he's looking forward to his future in Los Angeles.

"I thought I was gonna stay my whole career there. Loyalty is a big word for me… [But] I got the ocean here. I get to play for the Lakers. Not many get to say that," Dončić told reporters.

The Mavs shocked the sports world on Sunday by trading Dončić and forwards Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Lakers in exchange for star big man Anthony Davis, guard Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick.

When asked about his thoughts on why Dallas traded him, Dončić simply said: "They made a decision. I don't know why."

He also revealed his immediate reaction to finding out about the trade, saying: "I was asleep. ... I had to check my phone to see if it was April 1st."

Dallas general manager Nico Harrison said after the deal Los Angeles was the only team he held discussions with regarding a trade for Dončić. He also admitted that the 25-year-old phenom never indicated that he wanted out or wouldn't sign an extension with the Mavs. Dončić confirmed that on Tuesday, responding, "Absolutely not" when asked if he gave the team an indication that he wouldn't agree to an extension.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka called the acquisition of Dončić a "seismic event" in NBA history.

Pelinka revealed that negotiations between him and Harrison lasted for nearly three weeks, and he looped in team owner Jeanie Buss from the very start.

Dallas head coach Jason Kidd was not involved in the decision to trade Dončić and only found out about it after it was finalized. Longtime Mavs owner Mark Cuban, who no longer has controlling interest in the team, confirmed to WFAA's Ryan Osborne and Pete Freedman on Sunday that he wasn't involved in the decision, either.

Former Mavs forward Chandler Parsons said he texted with Cuban after the deal, and the 66-year-old echoed his confusion about the trade. A team source also told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon: "No way Mark would ever trade Luka. It wouldn't even be a conversation."

Following the surprising trade, reports emerged that Dallas had grown disenchanted with the face of the franchise. On Tuesday, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported, "The Mavs' relationship with Dončić was more fractured than anyone comprehended."

Dončić would've been eligible for a record-breaking five-year, $345 million maximum extension this summer, but the team reportedly was hesitant to reward him with such a deal. MacMahon said on Monday's episode of The Hoop Collective (43:45 mark) that the Mavs "were terrified of a supermax commitment," and he also reported that Dončić's "constant conditioning issues" had also contributed to "major concerns" within the organization about moving forward with him.

Dončić was asked about the comments that have come out of Dallas in recent days and responded, "I am taking the high road." However, he added that it's a "big motive" for him to hear that his conditioning wasn't good enough with the Mavs.

Instead, the Lakers now have one of the best young players in the NBA as their newest franchise cornerstone. Dončić will be the immediate successor to James once the 40-year-old ends his legendary career.

Dončić hasn't played since Christmas Day due to a left calf strain, but he's reportedly ramping up his recovery and nearing a return. In 22 appearances this season, he has averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists.

The Golden State Warriors are somewhat concerned about Kevin Durant's "true willingness" for a reunion if they were to work out a trade with the Phoenix Suns, according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer.

Durant is one of multiple targets of the Warriors prior to Thursday's 3 p.m. ET trade deadline. ESPN's Shams Charania reported Monday on The Pat McAfee Show they're inquiring "about every All-Star player."

When it comes to Durant, getting the Suns to agree to a deal is the first hurdle.

It's one thing for Phoenix to move Bradley Beal, who's no longer a starter and has one of the worst contracts in the NBA. There's no way the Suns trade Durant and avoid getting worse in the short term.

But Fischer reported Monday that Phoenix is "believed to be listening at the very least to various teams' pitches." Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix followed up to report the opinion of some NBA executives is that "the Suns are strongly considering Durant deals before the deadline."

According to Fischer, Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga is a player of some interest within Phoenix's front office, so a swap centered around KD at least looks plausible.

Golden State might balk, however, if it senses the 15-time All-Star is less than enthused about playing in the Bay Area again. He doesn't have a no-trade clause, but it sort of defeats the purpose of a win-now trade if the star you acquired is unhappy or reticent from the jump.

Durant's Warriors tenure and his exit in free agency have been scrutinized in thorough detail. After three years there, he was simply ready to move on.

Maybe he'll feel differently now about the idea of putting on a Golden State uniform again. His relationship with Draymond Green seems to be in a much better place. Bob Myers is no longer the general manager, which might be a good thing. Most importantly, all of the key figures within the franchise are at different points in their lives than they were in 2019, having gained more wisdom and perspective that comes with age.

Yet, after achieving basically everything he can with the Warriors, Durant could conclude he's been there, done that and prefers to pursue a different challenge.

Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić are close friends off the court, so the Denver Nuggets superstar had to send his buddy a message after Sunday's stunning deal that saw him go from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Speaking to reporters after the Nuggets' victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday, Jokić said the response from Dončić indicated "he didn't expect it" when the deal went down.

Nikola Jokic says he texted with Luka Doncic after the trade to the Lakers:

"I think nobody is safe in the league." pic.twitter.com/vmzyWs8QYA

— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) February 4, 2025

It's safe to say no one in the world outside of the people who negotiated the trade between the Mavs and Lakers expected the trade. The deal sent Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick.

The three-team deal also involved the Utah Jazz, who received Jalen Hood-Schifino and two second-round draft picks.

One Western Conference executive told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Tim MacMahon the deal was "unfathomable."

Shelburne and MacMahon also noted Jazz CEO Danny Ainge had no idea about the full details of the trade "until about an hour" before it was agreed upon.

It had to be a bittersweet moment for Jokić since he and Dončić were having what appeared to be the time of their lives together at All-Star weekend last year.

No one had more fun than Jokic and Luka this weekend 🤣 pic.twitter.com/HwqOGms5Kd

— DNVR Sports (@DNVR_Sports) February 19, 2024

Jokić even said after the 2024 All-Star Game that he wasn't looking to leave the Denver Nuggets, but he would welcome Dončić joining him if he "got pissed" with the Mavericks.

There was no indication Dončić was angry with the Mavs prior to the trade. They made the decision to move on from the five-time All-Star due to concerns about his conditioning, per MacMahon (h/t ESPN's Dave McMenamin).

It's a bold move to make, one that will have ramifications on both the Mavs and Lakers for years to come. It also adds another layer to the rivalry between the Nuggets and Lakers that has developed in recent years, with Denver beating them twice in the playoffs in each of the previous two seasons.

Having pulled off one of the most shocking trades in NBA history to acquire Luka Dončić, the next step for the Los Angeles Lakers will be getting the five-time All-Star to sign a contract extension this summer.

On Tuesday's episode of Get Up, ESPN's Brian Windhorst did suggest it's "not a guarantee" that Dončić signs for the max he's eligible for with the Lakers in the offseason.

What happens if Luka Doncic doesn't sign an extension this summer with the Lakers?

"We have to just watch and see how it all plays out." —@WindhorstESPN pic.twitter.com/e7rwR9l0ff

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 4, 2025

There are several factors that Dončić and his camp will almost certainly consider before he makes any long-term decisions as he prepares to begin his Lakers tenure.

Perhaps the biggest factor for Dončić is money. He would have been eligible to sign a five-year, $345 million supermax with the Dallas Mavericks, but that's no longer on the table after a midseason trade.

Per The Athletic's Jovan Buha (starts at 56:05 mark), Dončić will most likely sign a two-year extension with a player option for a third season that would give him the ability to get a full supermax after accruing 10 years of service time to maximize his earnings.

The most Dončić could sign for this summer with the Lakers is four years and $229 million, but it's also been pointed out because of how NBA rules work that it would be more financially beneficial if he took a shorter deal.

The smart play would be for Doncic to sign a three-year extension this summer with a player option in 2028-29.

That would allow him to reach 10 years of service and recoup most if not all from the missed opportunity to sign the super max this offseason.

Starting salary in… https://t.co/ZxxUk4Bd57

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 2, 2025

Dončić has one more guaranteed year plus a $48.97 million player option for 2026-27 on his current contract.

Another factor for Dončić is how the fit with the organization works out.

Dončić and LeBron James will have to learn to play together for as long as they are teammates. James isn't a long-term solution in Los Angeles at the age of 40, but it will be interesting to see how two ball-dominant superstars mesh while they are playing together.

This is an entirely new organization that Dončić is playing for and he's never worked with any of these people before, so it's plausible he doesn't like the fit.

Dwight Howard didn't like how things went in his first go-round in L.A. during the 2012-13 season and opted to take a smaller max from the Houston Rockets as a free agent in the summer of 2013 rather than re-sign with the Lakers.

The Lakers have every incentive to make sure Dončić is happy and comfortable in his new surroundings, even if it comes at some expense to their relationship with James. James is still an incredible player, but there's speculation he will retire after next season.

Dončić will turn 26 on Feb. 28 and already has five All-NBA first-team selections under his belt. He is the future of the organization and one of the best building blocks in the NBA.

It might not be long before Lakers fans get to see what their future looks like. Andscape's Marc J. Spears reported that Dončić is "targeting next week" as his return from a calf injury that has kept him out since Christmas Day.

The Lakers go into the All-Star break after a home-and-home with the Utah Jazz on Feb. 10 and 12, with the first game at Crypto.com Arena.

Dončić averaged 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game in 22 starts for the Dallas Mavericks this season prior to the trade.

The Los Angeles Lakers stunned the basketball world with their trade for Luka Dončić Saturday night and according to Yahoo's Kevin O'Connor, the team is not finished with making deals yet.

The host of the Kevin O'Connor Show reported that the team is still focused on finding a big man and that the New York Knicks' Mitchell Robinson is on their radar.

If so, the Knicks must move Robinson before the trade deadline.

The talented center has been the subject of trade talk before, and his history of lower-body injuries over the last three seasons has limited his availability to the team. He has yet to play a single minute for New York this season, but head coach Tom Thibodeau revealed he is cleared for contact practice, a significant step on his way back to the court.

Despite the general excitement surrounding the Knicks and their opportunity to see their vision from this past offseason fully realized with Robinson's return to the lineup, now is also the best time to make a deal with the Lakers.

Los Angeles proved their desperation to make a splash with both the secrecy of the Dončić trade and their willingness to send Anthony Davis to Dallas as part of it. It is a team that knows there are lofty expectations and wants desperately to realize them while they still have LeBron James in the building.

With Davis gone and a serious lack of depth at the center position, the team will likely be more willing to give up assets to acquire a player they believe can be a difference-maker at the five. If Robinson is on their radar and they want to acquire the 26-year-old to pair with Dončić and James, the Knicks should get everything they can in return for him.

The Lakers still have an unprotected 2031 first-rounder, a protected 2027 first, swap rights on their 2026, 2028, and 2030 first-round picks, and a pair of second-round picks in 2025 (theirs and the Clippers').

If the Knicks want more depth out of the deal than draft picks, it could receive Jaxson Hayes to replace the big man and possibly add Rui Hachimura or Gabe Vincent as additional depth on a roster already one of the most impressive in the league.

Robinson has a career average of 24 minutes and eight points, shoots 70.1 from the floor, and tallies 7.9 rebounds per game. He is elite at the rim and would provide the Lakers exactly what they are looking for from that position. Whether he can stay healthy is the question and one the Knicks should not worry about answering anymore.

Robinson is on the Lakers' radar and even if the team had not previously considered dealing him, they should, especially knowing how determined Los Angeles has been to fill that hole on their roster. That he is still young gives the Knicks relative leverage in adding to the return and further filling out a roster that could lead them to their first Eastern Conference title in a quarter-century

Bronny James returned to G League action on Monday night, scoring 16 points in the South Bay Lakers' 105-101 loss to the Oklahoma City Blue.

This marked James' first time back with South Bay since Jan. 24. He appeared in each of the last three games for the Los Angeles Lakers, including making his Madison Square Garden debut late in Saturday's win over the New York Knicks.

One area where James did shine was on defense. He had three steals and one block, with the latter being a chase-down block that has been a staple of his father's career.

Lookout for Bronny on the chase-down block! ❌🙅‍♂️

The @Lakers draftee is up to 13 points and 5 rebounds for the @SouthBayLakers on https://t.co/fLGfbO0vpY. pic.twitter.com/dQuKMQ04QO

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 4, 2025

BRONNY JAMES TONIGHT

16 PTS
5 AST
3 STL
3 REB
1 BLK

DEFENSIVE DEMON 🔥😈 pic.twitter.com/Uek0AXhkdh

— BronnyMuse (@BronnyMuse06) February 4, 2025

Despite his defensive highlights in the game, James was unhappy overall with his performance on that end of the floor. The Lakers led by as many as 24 points in the first half and had a 10-point advantage late in the third quarter.

I asked Bronny James after the game what he could have done better on a night when the Lakers blew a 24-point lead.

“I felt like I could've gave more effort on the defensive end,” James said. @SportingTrib pic.twitter.com/k75q04rMmn

— Fredo Cervantes (@FredoCervantes) February 4, 2025

James had an inefficient scoring night against the Blue. He finished 5-of-17 shooting, his worst field-goal percentage (29.4) in a G League game since going 2-of-10 against the Stockton Kings on Nov. 17.

James' 16 points were the second-most for South Bay on Monday night. Quincy Olivari led the way with 23 points in 34 minutes.

This is James' fourth consecutive G League game scoring in double-figures. His three steals were his most in a game since Dec. 27 against the Cleveland Charge.

Defense was always James' calling card leading up to the 2024 NBA draft. He is still learning to hone his ability on that end of the court as a 20-year-old rookie, but the flashes of potential he's showing already is very encouraging going forward.

James should see a lot more consistent game action going forward. South Bay will being a stretch of six consecutive games in California starting on Friday. The L.A. Lakers will also have a stretch of four straight games in the City of Angels starting Tuesday when they play the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome.

The best way for James to get better is to get regular playing time. It hasn't happened so far this season because of the unique arrangement the Lakers have set up for him, but this upcoming stretch will be big for his development.

Luka Dončić could debut for his new team soon after spending more than a month off the court.

Dončić, who was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks, could reportedly be back on the court as soon as Saturday's matchup against the Indiana Pacers, per ESPN's Shams Charania.

"There is optimism he is going to be able to make his Lakers debut on Saturday against Indiana," Charania said on SportsCenter. "The Lakers have five games before the All-Star break; that was Luka Dončić's goal to return before the All-Star break even before this trade to L.A."

Dončić has not played since the Mavericks' Christmas Day game against the Minnesota Timberwolves when he suffered a calf strain that was set to keep him sidelined for at least a month. Dončić has dealt with calf strains several times throughout his career, including another one earlier this year.

As Charania noted, Dončić has been eyeing a pre-All-Star break return since before the trade went down on Saturday night. Getting back on the floor before the All-Star break feels even more crucial now that he's with a new team.

If he can play against the Pacers and the Lakers' other two games before the All-Star break, it would give him the chance to shake off the rust while also getting acclimated with his new team.

After logging a few games, he'd be able to reset during the All-Star break and manage any lingering pain before attacking the second half of the season strong.

Regardless of whether Dončić's return comes before or after the All-Star break, the Lakers will hope to get the same version of him that they saw in Dallas.

Dončić is coming off the best season of his career in which he put up 33.9 points, 9.8 assists and 9.2 rebounds per game. He hasn't had the same numbers this year, averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 boards and 7.8 assists per game, but those stats are more than enough to land him on an All-NBA roster at the end of the year.

The Lakers have found their rhythm as of late and are currently sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference at 28-19. Los Angeles won't be the same team without Davis, but it will look to continue its success with a new star in Dončić.

The Golden State Warriors aren't giving up on landing disgruntled Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler.

Per The Athletic's Anthony Slater, the Warriors believe they are still "firmly in the mix for Butler or another of the league's star dominos that could topple as part of the Butler transaction or once it is resolved," despite a report from ESPN's Brian Windhorst saying that Butler had "communicated to the Warriors that he's unwilling to sign an extension there."

Butler's unwillingness to sign an extension with the Warriors, in theory, ended trade talks, though Windhorst noted that conversations had only halted "for now." According to Slater, the Warriors viewed the "for now" part of that report as an indication that there's still a chance they could land Butler.

Golden State has until Thursday afternoon to sway Butler into wanting to sign past the 2024-25 season. The Warriors will also have to make Miami an enticing offer as teams like the Phoenix Suns compete for Butler.

Slater noted that Phoenix is Butler's preferred destination and has been for a long time. That is partially "because of an awaiting extension offer that is longer and more lucrative than one the Warriors would be willing to make."

While the Suns might be willing to give Butler an extension that is more to his liking, there is one key element that could be a roadblock in making a trade. Bradley Beal, who will likely be the key piece in any offer from Phoenix, has a no-trade clause in his contract, meaning he can veto the Suns' deal if they want to send him somewhere he isn't in favor of.

If trade talks for Butler come down to the final moments before the deadline, that could play to the Warriors' advantage.

Golden State is currently sitting outside of the playoff race at 24-24. If the season ended today, the Warriors wouldn't even get a trip to the play-in tournament. Adding another scoring option like Butler alongside Stephen Curry might not make them a championship contender, but it could certainly help them avoid back-to-back seasons with a postseason absence.