Luka Doncic, Lakers
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Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates in front of Jamir Watkins of the Washington Wizards.
With three days remaining before the NBA trade deadline, Luka Dončić made one thing clear: he is not pressing the Los Angeles Lakers to force a move.
Following the Lakers’ 112–100 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday — Dončić’s first game at Madison Square Garden as a Laker — the franchise cornerstone struck a notably measured tone about the roster and the team’s direction.
“I think we’re in a good spot,” Dončić said. “Obviously, got some work to do. But I think today we missed a lot of good looks. I think we have a great group.”
Lakers’ Trade Options Shrink Ahead of Deadline
The Lakers’ front office enters the final stretch of the trade window with limited maneuverability.
Los Angeles recently missed out on De’Andre Hunter and Keon Ellis, who were swapped for each other in a multi-team deal. Other wings previously linked to the Lakers — including Andrew Wiggins, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones and Naji Marshall — are either unavailable or priced beyond the team’s means.
Asset-wise, the Lakers can trade only one future first-round pick, one second-round pick and up to five pick swaps. Their expiring contracts and young guard Dalton Knecht have not generated significant traction around the league, leaving the team boxed into the margins rather than the blockbuster market.
Despite those limitations, Dončić expressed no frustration.
“I’m not really changing that much,” he said, per The Athletic. “Just a little bit, but no problem with that.”
Flexibility Over Short-Term Fixes
With trade avenues narrowing, league observers expect the Lakers to pivot toward a longer-term approach centered on building around Dončić in the offseason.
According to ESPN salary cap analyst Bobby Marks, Los Angeles could open up to $50 million in salary cap space this summer, depending on player options and roster decisions.
That flexibility is by design. Outside of Dončić’s three-year, $165 million extension, the Lakers have largely avoided long-term commitments. Jake LaRavia, Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart are all on two-year contracts, with Ayton and Smart holding player options in the second season. LeBron James’ $52.6 million salary is also set to come off the books after next season.
The structure gives Los Angeles the ability to reshape the roster aggressively once Dončić is fully entrenched as the franchise centerpiece.
On-Court Results Reveal Growing Pains
Luka Doncic, Lebron James and Austin Reaves, Lakers
GettyLuka Doncic, Lebron James and Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers are committed to working on their chemistry.
Sunday’s loss dropped the Lakers to 29–19, sixth in the Western Conference, but it also underscored why the front office remains cautious about making short-term fixes.
Dončić, Austin Reaves and James have played only eight games together, limiting lineup continuity. In those limited minutes, the Lakers’ most frequently used lineup featuring Rui Hachimura and Ayton alongside the three stars has been outscored by 16.7 points per 100 possessions, according to Cleaning The Glass.
A smaller sample swapping Marcus Smart in for Ayton has produced a strong positive differential, but that alignment relies heavily on James playing small-ball center — an unsustainable approach for a 41-year-old deep into the season.
Lineups featuring Jaxson Hayes and Hachimura in the frontcourt have also struggled, posting a negative net rating in limited possessions.
Defense Remains Lakers’ Biggest Concern
While the sample sizes are small, one issue has been consistent: defense.
The Lakers continue to rank in the bottom five of the NBA in defensive efficiency, a troubling trend for a team with championship aspirations. Their second-half collapse at Madison Square Garden again highlighted breakdowns on the perimeter and at the rim — problems that Reaves’ impending return from a calf injury alone is unlikely to fix.
Still, Dončić showed no inclination to accelerate the front office’s timeline.
Dončić’s Patience Shapes Lakers’ Deadline Approach
With their star unfazed and their asset base constrained, the Lakers appear content to avoid a deadline move that could compromise future flexibility.
Dončić’s steady demeanor has effectively lowered the temperature around the deadline, allowing team president Rob Pelinka and the front office to resist reactionary deals.
For now, the Lakers will ride out the season with what they have — confident that the real roster transformation is still ahead, not three days away.