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With Luka Doncic just one year away from having to decide on a massive $46 million player option, and LeBron James likely to retire in the next season or two, the pressure is on Lakers GM Rob Pelinka. Now is the time to act. He needs to build a team around this superstar duo, both to chase one final championship with LeBron and to convince Doncic that it’s worth staying in LA once the NBA’s all-time leading scorer walks away from the game.
After the Lakers’ early exit from the playoffs, losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round, it became painfully obvious that the team lacks a true starting-calibre centre. J.J. Redick’s squad was exposed in that area, and it cost them dearly.
A recent trade idea from Sports Illustrated could be the answer: bring in former All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis, one of the league’s best rebounders who also brings offensive firepower and playmaking ability.
Proposed Trade:
Lakers receive:
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Domantas Sabonis
Kings receive:
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Austin Reaves
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Rui Hachimura
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Jared Vanderbilt
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2031 first-round pick (unprotected)
In this trade, the Lakers would finally fix their centre problem, especially after sending Anthony Davis to Dallas in the hypothetical Doncic deal. With Davis gone, the Lakers would have a huge hole in the frontcourt. Sabonis fills that gap. He can score, rebound, pass, and stretch the floor, creating more space for LeBron and Doncic to operate.
From the Kings’ perspective, this would signal the start of a rebuild. Sacramento has been stuck in NBA limbo, too good to tank, not good enough to compete. Moving Sabonis could be the smart long-term play. They’d get a promising young guard in Reaves, two expiring contracts, and a valuable future first-round pick in what’s expected to be one of the best drafts of the next decade.
Bottom line: this move gives the Lakers a better shot at a title right now while laying the groundwork for a post-LeBron era with Doncic leading the way. And for the Kings, it might be time to cash in and finally pick a direction.