Lakers go together near LeBron James and Luka Dončić

Los Angeles – For months there has been uncertainty about the final direction of the Los Angeles Lakers on February 6th.

Would you invest your capital design to improve the pairing of LeBron James-Anthony Davis? Or would you prioritize the future? Maybe you would share the difference with half a measurement to at least say that you tried it?

Lakers made things crystal clear last week: they were officially gone this season and Luka Dončić-Lebron duo.

After this league Shattering trade, Los Angeles had a blatant hole in the center, with Jaxson Hayes to start Vanderbilt and Dorian Finney-Smith and support him as small alternatives for small ball alternatives.

After the expectations of the center, which they were able to acquire before the trading period, were able to acquire expectations of the trading period, the Lakers exchanged against Mark Williams to support their starting line -up late Wednesday. In return, they sent the Charlotte Hornets Rookie Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, their 2031 pimples of the first round and an exchange in the first round in the first round.

Now the 23-year-old 7-foot Williams will enter a decisive starting place, with Hayes being gripped appropriately as a situational backup. The deal was another aggressive change of the Lakers.

“We said all the time that we were ready to use our choice when the right opportunity came” State Warriors on Thursday. “And I think we have the feeling that we have two top-five-top 10 players in our team in our team. And saw this as an opportunity to give these two players all the resources they need to achieve a playoff run. “

It is also important that trade is an early indication of Dončić that the Lakers are invested in their partnership and try to fight championships as soon as possible and be ready to acquire the type of players he desires.

On Monday, his first day in the Lakers’ Practice Facility, Dončić met with Pelinka in his office with a view of the practical court. The two discussed the Lakers squad and the group’s short and long-term vision. Dončić said that he feels like playing in addition to a vertical praise, similar to Dallas like Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford and Dwight Powell, similar to Dallas.

The next day, the Lakers held the introductory industry for Dončić. Towards the end, Pelinka said that the Lakers were still looking for a center, but the market was “dry” and the team mention a smaller change on the edge. These comments prompted several teams to contact Pelinka, including the Hornets.

Williams had not been a popular name in commands because many, including the Lakers, regarded Lamelo Ball and Brandon Miller as the core of the future of the Hornets. But the Hornets felt the opportunity to make Dalton Knecht, a player that they liked and in the NBA draft 2024 as high as number 6, decided to make Williams available at a high price.

The Lakers found that Williams made the timeline and playing style of Dončić and the offensive system of coach JJ Redick a bold offer. About 36 hours after Pelinka’s conversation with Dončić Los Angeles acquired the kind of great.

“Maybe in a sense it is like the LA apartment market,” said Pelinka. “Not every house is listed. And sometimes they become aware of something that is not on the market. And when you see the perfect house, you are ready to get it, even if you have to be aggressive to do it. “

This season Williams scored an average of 15.6 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks, while they shoot a total of 58.6 percent and 78.0 percent in free throws in 23 games. Lately he has been to his last 11 games at an average of 19.0 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 blocks.

Williams’ 9-foot 9 range, which has ever been recorded in the NBA design, combine history and two centimeters better than Victor Wembanyama and Athletics gives him one of the best fishing radius in the league. He has an average of almost three dunks per game and a little more than one alley-op finish per game. He will redeem himself with praise, shells and pocket cards from Dončić, James and Austin Reaves.

Mark Williams defends LeBron James in one game at the beginning of this season. (Jim Dedmon / Imagn Images)

His main task is aggressively to lower the offensive glass, roll, run and overthrow, where its length and verticality make it effective with putbacks and deposits. The center in the third year also has a mentor mentee relationship to Redick, with the two combined via their Duke connection.

“I think Luka can play a number of options,” said Redick. “It would be very advantageous for us to have several centers that can represent a vertical threat, and we believe that Mark … represents this vertical threat.”

When the Lakers (30-19) jockey for position in the west, Williams puts out its rotation and gives them a respectable center against the top prices of the conference.

“It fits this perfect archetype,” said Pelinka. “There are many teams in the west who have a huge size that are with us, Memphis and Houston and OKC for the overall ranking. And we just felt that we had to address it, and we felt like the perfect guy. “

The two greatest concerns at Williams are his defense and his history of injury.

Although he has more than one block per game and uses his massive frame and length well, it is a below -average marginal protection. It allows the opponents to shoot 68.1 percent on the edge – a number worse than 67.1 percent of Rui Hachimura. He has high hips and long legs so that he can recover faster and when he has hit the dribble. It is strong and robust, but the strongest and most physical centers can move it into the post.

“I think we as a staff have a job to do it as a screen, decision -makers in his pocket and at the defensive end,” said Redick. “But we are confident with his character, his work morality, IQ that he will be a really good player for us.”

He has never played more than 43 games in one season (he played in 23 of the 48 games of the Hornets this season). He missed great time with foot, ankles and back injuries, although the Lakers are not concerned that one of these problems will linger.

“We have completely checked his health things. … he had no operations, ”said Pelinka. “So, these are only parts of, it still grows into his body.”

In view of the stand of the center market – both the lack of options and the high prices – and the alternative that Hayes continues to begin, the Lakers were about as good as possible. And when they take into account, they managed to add Dončić and Finney-Smith, this period is a fixed A-Plus for Pelinka and the Front Office.

With this trading period, the Lakers have turned into competitor status. You have a duo of the championship caliber with which no team in the West will be confronted in a series with seven games. In the sense of macro, they have size, sportiness, versatility and enough shooting and graduation to maximize the skills to play the game of generations by James and Dončić. The pairing is the best in the league, and as teammates you still have to take the place together.

Dončić is a top three-player welfare of a top two player and can give the Lakers the chance to win almost every playoff series. James plays his best basketball of the season since the calendar year and can now preserve his offensive workload in a way that he has not had in years (if at all). He has a story in which he performs better in the off -season, even in the last season.

Lebron James tonight: 42 points (14-25 FGS, 6-9 3pt, 8-10 feet), 17 rebounds and 8 assists in 37 minutes.

– Jovan Buhha (@jovanbuha) February 7, 2025

Apart from the Oklahoma City Thunder, which was supposed to be the clear favorites of the conference, the Lakers probably have the highest ceiling under the remaining packs. You have two almost unsolvable problems with the opposite defense in Dončić and James, who were confronted with every defense and reporting in their combined 29 -year NBA experience, and can carry out any pass and reading.

There are certainly mistakes and concerns about the list. They made half of the rotation new, which has its own learning curve. You have to find out the hierarchy between Dončić and James and to a lesser extent how this affects the Reaves. You could use more perimeter defense, especially in the background. Williams and Hayes have never been part of a serious playoff run. Williams’ defense restrictions could force Redick to become more small, which could backfire in certain matchups.

But after the Lakers have prepared the border between the competition in the present and the preparation for the future, they have a clear way forward – and above all a real chance to compete.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said James. “I can barely wait for it. Everything I do on the floor (Dončić) simply has the ability to do it or even do better. He is that great. Even at his young age of 25, he is such a unique player, special player, generation talent.

“So I will be very grateful to be able to share the floor with it and then watch him do his thing. It will be good. “

(Photo by LeBron James: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)