When you have one of the top players in the NBA, you give him what he wants.
A vital component of any successful relationship is the desire to see the other person happy. Rob Pelinka is determined not to repeat the mistake that Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison made when he traded away the team’s mainstay, Luka Dončić, now that Luka is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Lakers want their Slovenian star to wear their jersey for the remainder of his career, unlike Harrison, who sent Luka away in the most shocking NBA deal ever. They must demonstrate to him that they respect his happiness by their actions, especially with this next season and a one-year player option on his contract in 2026–2027.
At the start of free agency, Lakers supporters were more than a little agitated. While other teams were negotiating, there wasn’t much to discuss regarding the purple and gold aside from LeBron James’ mysterious opt-in and the acquisition of Jake LaRavia. That quiet strategy didn’t give hope that anything would alter this coming season for a squad that was eliminated in five games from the playoffs in the first round the previous year.
The Lakers’ options this summer were restricted by the salary restrictions, but they took advantage of a difficult circumstance by snatching Deandre Ayton when he became available. The Portland Trail Blazers bought out Ayton last week, indicating that they are prepared to give Donovan Clingan the starting center spot. As a previous No. 1 overall pick (ironically, in the same draft class that Luka was selected third), Ayton hasn’t lived up to his full potential, but he is still an above-average center who can rebound, defend the rim, and comfortably score ten points or more per night.
After dealing for Anthony Davis last season, the Lakers had the worst center situation in the NBA; therefore, Ayton is a significant improvement. Given how he gradually left Jaxson Hayes for dead against the Timberwolves in the postseason, his presence will spare JJ Redick from having to try out strange, center-less lineups that are outmatched against any team with a pulse. As a result of having to protect larger players, it will also prevent Luka and LeBron from taking on more strain.
Ayton is still a good player even though he isn’t the same type of high-flying rim-runner that Luka had in Dallas in Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II. Even though he will only be 27 when the regular season starts, he played a significant role in the Suns’ 2021 Finals run. More significantly, Luka is reportedly thrilled to be their new teammate.
Don’t Let the Mavericks’ Lottery Luck allow Nico Harrison to Find Redemption
After Luka was moved away in February, the atmosphere in Dallas was positively funereal. That mindset has entirely changed since the Mavs won the lottery as a 55-1 longshot and selected Cooper Flagg, one of the most anticipated prospects of the past few decades. since first leaving the franchise following Harrison’s widely criticized contract, Mavs supporters are now returning.
The procedure that led Harrison to a gold mine is not justified just because he crashed headfirst into it. The aims do not justify the means in this instance. It was impossible for anyone, Harrison in particular, to have foreseen that the ping pong balls would have taken such a ridiculous turn in Dallas’ favor.
That isn’t entirely accurate, though, as all NBA conspiracy theorists anticipated this one. Still, though! When credit isn’t deserved, let’s not give it. Most people believed Harrison’s trade to be a hoax because it was so terrible. Even though he was lucky to win such a high-stakes game of capture the flag, it cannot be forgotten (or forgiven).
Ayton’s signing gives the Lakers a fighting chance in the Western Conference next season and demonstrates to Luka that the franchise is committed to developing around him, even though it doesn’t put them on par with the reigning champion Thunder or the revamped Rockets. The process of hanging another banner in Crypto.com Arena can start as soon as he signs an extension to stay in Los Angeles.
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