Luka Doncic Absent in Mavericks After Shocking Lakers Trade Rumors Emerge – Explained
Is Luka Doncic’s absence a sign he’s heading to the Lakers? What do you think?
After reaching the NBA Finals last season and losing to the Celtics, the Mavs will aim to clinch the Championship once and for all, igniting the sparks of a new dynasty. They held a mini-camp in LA this past week, but not everyone could attend.
Although Kyrie is still recovering from his injury, the veteran and Klay were among the few players who made it to the preseason practice in Los Angeles. Luka Doncic, however, was absent, as he’s currently overseas with his family. Is this because of the Lakers rumors or what?
Given that the Slovenian recently played in the Olympic qualifiers and his growing fitness concerns, it makes sense that Luka couldn’t make the trip to Los Angeles.
“Yet it was always understood that the camp would only be attended by the Mavericks’ US-based players. Dončić and Dwight Powell, fresh off a trip to the Olympics with Canada, were expected absentees,” Marc Stein said about the Dallas side having a mini-camp this past week.
Also, Luka Doncic was present and played in the farewell game for Slovenian legend Goran Dragic in Ljubljana at the Night of the Dragon charity fundraiser last night, alongside players like Nikola Jokic, Boban Marjanovic, and many more. Even though the 5x NBA All-Star isn’t able to practice with his Mavs teammates, he’s still getting some light game time in the offseason, so things seem to be going well for the player and Dallas.
With trade rumors swirling about the Lakers potentially trying to acquire Luka Doncic, there are a few ways they could actually make it happen. But before that, let’s just confirm the obvious!
Luka to Lakers? Is it just a rumor, or is there some truth to it?
The Lakers’ offseason has been pretty quiet so far, aside from signing Max Christie to a 4-year, $32 million deal, alongside picking up Dalton Knecht and Bronny James in the 2024 NBA Draft and bringing JJ Redick on board as the new head coach. Now, with the buzz about a potential Luka Doncic trade, the LA faithful are starting to dream big yet again, in LeBron James’ final years.
Well, so Luka to the Lakers? Sounds juicy, but let’s keep it real. According to Bobby Marks from ESPN, the Slovenian is in line for a monster $346.3 million deal—the biggest in NBA history—and he can only get that deal from Dallas. Yes, Jeanie Buss and Co. might be eyeing him, but just because they’re known for snagging big names doesn’t necessarily mean Luka actually wants to move there.
How can the Lakers get Luka Doncic?
In addition to that, do the Lakers have the assets to acquire Luka Doncic? With Anthony Davis and LeBron James taking up a majority of the cap space; if the 39-year-old veteran only plays through both his remaining seasons and AD potentially signs an extension around the start of the 2026-27 season, the Lakers could free up substantial cap space. According to Trevor Lane, AD would only account for 35% of the team’s salary cap.
This would give the LA side the financial flexibility needed to pursue a trade for Luka Doncic.
Another possibility is if Kyrie Irving’s performance declines as he gets older, Luka Doncic might face challenges in Dallas. Keep in mind that Klay, despite his high standards, is aging too, with a decline in the stat line.
In today’s NBA world, star players are more often traded than moved through free agency, so Luka Doncic might look to get moved by Dallas before his super-max contract is fully realized.
Meanwhile, Rob Pelinka and Co. have avoided big roster changes this offseason, saving their draft picks. This smart strategy could give them a good shot at moving the pieces for a star name like Luka in the future.
Lastly, Doncic would have to be willing to leave the Mavericks, and right now, the chances of that are very low. Sure, Luka’s a big fan of LeBron James, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to give up on his mission with the Mavs that he has pioneered from scratch.
If any of these situations arise, the Lakers might have a shot at acquiring the Slovenian star. What are your thoughts on this?
