Lakers linked to trade for Luka Doncic's $27 million former Mavericks teammate
The Los Angeles Lakers are once again being mentioned in trade chatter, this time tied to a potential move for one of Luka Dončić’s former Dallas Mavericks teammates on a $27 million contract. The connection has sparked intrigue around the league, as the Lakers continue searching for ways to upgrade the roster around LeBron James and Anthony Davis without sacrificing their long‑term flexibility.
Targeting a former Dončić co-star suggests the Lakers are looking for a proven, high-usage offensive player who has already shown he can function alongside a ball-dominant superstar. That profile fits the type of secondary creator Los Angeles has lacked consistently, particularly in playoff settings when half-court scoring and shot creation become paramount.
From a cap perspective, a $27 million salary sits in the range where matching money is possible but painful. Any deal of that size would almost certainly require the Lakers to part with multiple rotation players and draft capital. Given the new collective bargaining agreement and harsher penalties for high-spending teams, front offices are increasingly cautious about consolidating salary into one big contract unless the incoming player clearly elevates their championship ceiling.
League observers will note that the Lakers have been trying to thread a needle: contend now while still preserving assets for a potential post-LeBron era. Trading for a big-money former Mavericks standout would signal a more aggressive “win-now” posture, especially if that player is under contract beyond this season. It would also raise questions about how much on-ball responsibility the Lakers are willing to shift away from James, and whether they envision Davis continuing as a defensive anchor while others handle more of the offensive creation.
For Dallas, any hypothetical move involving a past Dončić teammate indirectly highlights how the franchise has cycled through co-stars in search of the ideal fit. For Los Angeles, being linked to that caliber of player reinforces a familiar reality: as long as James and Davis are in purple and gold, the Lakers will be in the market for star-level help, even if the cost is steep.
Targeting a former Dončić co-star suggests the Lakers are looking for a proven, high-usage offensive player who has already shown he can function alongside a ball-dominant superstar. That profile fits the type of secondary creator Los Angeles has lacked consistently, particularly in playoff settings when half-court scoring and shot creation become paramount.
From a cap perspective, a $27 million salary sits in the range where matching money is possible but painful. Any deal of that size would almost certainly require the Lakers to part with multiple rotation players and draft capital. Given the new collective bargaining agreement and harsher penalties for high-spending teams, front offices are increasingly cautious about consolidating salary into one big contract unless the incoming player clearly elevates their championship ceiling.
League observers will note that the Lakers have been trying to thread a needle: contend now while still preserving assets for a potential post-LeBron era. Trading for a big-money former Mavericks standout would signal a more aggressive “win-now” posture, especially if that player is under contract beyond this season. It would also raise questions about how much on-ball responsibility the Lakers are willing to shift away from James, and whether they envision Davis continuing as a defensive anchor while others handle more of the offensive creation.
For Dallas, any hypothetical move involving a past Dončić teammate indirectly highlights how the franchise has cycled through co-stars in search of the ideal fit. For Los Angeles, being linked to that caliber of player reinforces a familiar reality: as long as James and Davis are in purple and gold, the Lakers will be in the market for star-level help, even if the cost is steep.
