
Luka Doncic isn't acting as if he doesn't want to stay with Lakers
There has been a bit of anxiety regarding whether Doncic will stay with the Lakers past this coming season, especially since they may not have a truly championship-caliber roster. They got veteran guard Marcus Smart, the NBA's 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, to agree to sign with them on Saturday after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards, but they still need a little more help.
Doncic reportedly helped recruit Smart, and as Dan Woike of The Athletic pointed out, the superstar appears to be acting like someone who wants to wear the Purple and Gold for a while.
"While Dončić hasn't directly addressed his future with the franchise this summer — time he's spent in Europe putting together an all-time revenge glow-up — his actions behind the scenes crystalize why the Lakers are confident with how things stand," Woike wrote.
"Dončić, according to league sources, had communicated his desires for a capable rim-running center, shooting help and defensive support. The Lakers responded by filling those needs with Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and, soon, Marcus Smart.
"In addition to that, league sources said, Dončić has been an active recruiter for the Lakers this summer and helped secure commitments from Ayton and Smart after both unexpectedly hit free agency via contract buyouts.
"The Lakers also posted an interview with Dončić on Saturday (taped during the season) that ended with him saying that he hoped his legacy with the Lakers would leave him known as 'the guy that brought championships to the city.'
"All of it has the Lakers confident they're in alignment with Dončić in their plans to build a championship roster.
"None of this is to say that Dončić was going to patiently wait for next summer or a talent-rich 2027 free agency crop for the Lakers to begin stacking their team. While Dončić and the Lakers understand their long-term flexibility needs, the short-term movement has, on paper, signaled a commitment to competing in the short term, provided some things break their way."
Los Angeles landed Doncic in that stunning trade on Feb. 1 that sent out Anthony Davis, Max Christie and draft compensation. It signaled a shift in who the franchise revolves around, as it is now catering to Doncic after bending to almost every one of LeBron James' whims for nearly seven years.
Despite persistent rumors that he may want to leave, James is expected to be with the Lakers once the new season starts, and possibly even beyond this coming season. Given that this could very well be his last season with them, they seem to have every incentive to try to win the NBA championship right now.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
25 minutes ago
- New York Times
Nick Bosa has always set an example, but now he's letting 49ers' young DL hear it as well
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Nick Bosa seems like the kind of guy who thinks over things, maybe even has an inner debate with himself, before speaking up. It's worked for the 49ers defensive end, who is now entering Year 7 as a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and one of the trusted playmakers and leaders on a team looking to bounce back from a 6-11 season. Advertisement But Bosa has told himself that he needs to make a change. 'I definitely need to take a leadership role, for sure,' he said. 'It's one thing to come in and work on my job and get better, which is all I've ever really worried about. And then it's another thing to try and bring everybody along with you. 'So it's definitely something that I'm thinking about and something I want to do.' One can see Bosa at training camp practices this past week, talking to younger players between snaps. First-round pick Mykel Williams not only gets to watch and follow Bosa in drills, but also gets feedback when he is done. 'I mean it's just friendly banter, but some of it is constructive criticism,' Bosa said. 'Obviously, it's fun to watch a young guy just go through the growing pains that I went through — and anything that I see I'm going to help them with.' Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said Bosa's leading by example already speaks volumes. 'He doesn't really need to talk,' Saleh said. 'If I'm a young rookie walking into a building and I want to know what it's supposed to look like day in and day out to prepare myself, to prepare my mind, my body to be one of the best players in football, I just go watch him. Watch how he prepares, watch how he takes care of his body, watch how he works out, rehabs, whatever he's doing. 'It is pedal to the metal and he's rolling. He doesn't have to say a word.' But Saleh said that Bosa is speaking up more this camp, and teammates are appreciating the extra tip here and there. Coach Kyle Shanahan agreed that Bosa is stepping out of his comfort zone a little more. 'He doesn't vary out of his personality very much,' Shanahan said. 'But I do think he talks to those guys more, and he knows he can help guys and when he sees spots that he can help guys with, he doesn't hesitate.' Advertisement Bosa has been impressed with Williams, who can set the edge or rush the passer from the outside, and also bounce inside. 'Mykel's looked really good,' Bosa said. 'He is very physical and he has a big reach, so he just needs to hone in obviously on his aiming points and trusting the system.' 49ers left tackle Trent Williams thinks the rookie has great resources in defensive line coach Kris Kocurek and Bosa. 'I think he has a chance to be dominant,' Trent Williams said. 'He has the best coach in the league coaching him. Gets to learn from some of the best, from obviously Nick. I'm happy to see how he turns out. I think he has all the tools to be an All-Pro. 'Obviously, going against Nick, we feed off each other so much. And he makes me better. I like to feel like I make him better. He keeps me engaged. He keeps me working on myself, because nobody likes to get embarrassed — and not in a mean way, but yeah, he would embarrass me if I let him.' Williams just turned 37 and is thankful that he keeps putting off retirement talk as long as he holds up against Bosa in practice. 'It's always good going against Nick, one of my better friends on the team, but (also) one of the best players in the league, and being able to size yourself up against him,' Williams said. 'Especially me going into (Year) 16 and not knowing where that cliff is. When I get to go against Nick, it kind gives me a good measuring stick.' Bosa is looking forward to the pads going on for the first time Monday, and helping some of the young defensive linemen make a name for themselves. 'I think we have a lot of talent,' he said. 'I think when you look out on the field, you see NFL bodies out there that look impressive, which is a good thing. Obviously, we're young, but I think, I mean, just because nobody knows them now, they play a good couple games, then the whole world knows them, so it'll be exciting.' Advertisement Bosa, Trent Williams and RB Christian McCaffrey were given veteran rest days on Sunday. That was the plan with tight end George Kittle as well, but he opted to partake as a helmeted cheerleader/assistant coach/choreographer. Later on Sunday, third-year DL Tarron Jackson was carted off the practice field on a stretcher. Shanahan said after practice that Jackson was conscious and communicating and had feeling in his extremities. He was sent to Stanford Hospital to get further testing. … Shanahan said WR Jauan Jennings left practice early with a calf issue. … Cornerback Renardo Green and WR Jacob Cowing will be out 2-3 weeks with hamstring injuries, Shanahan said. … The 49ers activated WR Ricky Pearsall (hamstring) off the PUP list and he returned to practice atop the team's depth chart, along with Jennings. 'I think he got like eight reps today, but we'll see how he did with recovery and stuff,' Shanahan said. 'But I didn't hear any complaints and it was a good first day back.' … This kicker battle between Jake Moody and Greg Joseph is legit but I'm still not charting kicks in July. Moody did miss one from 50-plus yards out, while Joseph nailed his from that distance. (Photo of Bosa and Mykel Williams: D. Ross Cameron / Imagn Images)


Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
The New York Knicks Hit A Home Run With This Offseason Move
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 15: Guerschon Yabusele #28 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to ... More Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on January 15, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Knicks defeated the 76ers 125-119 in overtime. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) I know it has been nearly a month since it happened, but I still cannot stop thinking about how great an addition it was for the New York Knicks to sign Guerschon Yabusele. We'll get to the specifics in just a moment. But here is the short of it: he addresses one of their most pressing issues, helps bolster a strategy that worked well for them last postseason, and came to them at an absolute bargain compared to his actual production. Yabusele Gives The Knicks Bench Some Much Needed Depth While it turned out that their bench wasn't as terrible as Tom Thibodeau's Machiavellian treatment of the starters would suggest, they still didn't have much bite once the starters left the floor. Last season, the Knicks ranked dead-last in bench points per game, and based on the chart below, it wasn't even close: Yabusele will step in and immediately become their bullpen's best reliever. According to Estimated Plus-Minus (arguably the best one-number metric on the market because it incorporates tracking data), Yabusele placed in the 84th percentile in the entire league on the offensive side of the ball (per Dunks & Threes). That ranks higher than any non-starter from last year's Knicks team. Heck, that ranks higher than everyone not named Jalen Brunson or Karl-Anthony Towns. Yabusele Lets The Knicks Play More Double Big Lineups One of the biggest leaguewide storylines from last season was the re-emergence of double big lineups. All across the league, teams were having success with two titans in the frontcourt. The Knicks were not immune to this trend, as they posted a net rating of +8.3 in the 165 minutes that Towns and Mitchell Robinson shared the floor (per PBP Stats). For those who aren't hyper familiar with Yabusele's game, he is like the Diet Coke version of Towns. He's a big man who can hit triples (38%), put the ball on the floor (97th percentile true shooting on drives, per and offer some playmaking/passing (52nd percentile Passer Rating). Even a lesser version of this player archetype is incredibly valuable because it allows your team to go double big alongside a traditional center (i.e., Robinson) without sacrificing floor spacing. Yabusele gives the Knicks another key to unlocking their best lineup. Now, the Knicks have more lineup versatility/flexibility in the event that one of Towns/Robinson is injured or gets into foul trouble. Yabusele's Contract Is A Steal For The Knicks Yabusele signed with the Knicks for a little less than the full taxpayer mid-level exception. To be exact, his average annual value (AAV) over the next two years will be 5.6 million dollars (per Spotrac). However, based on my formula for estimating production value, if Yabusele can emulate his numbers from 2024-25, he will be worth roughly 14.1 million dollars in 2025-26. That difference of 8.5 million dollars makes him one of the five best value signings of the offseason thus far (to see the rest of those contracts, be sure to check out this link here). With most of their assets tied up in their formidable starting five, the Knicks faced a nearly impossible mission: trying to improve a bench with limited resources to do so. To be fair, the job still isn't finished (insert Kobe Bryant snippet). The Knicks could use one more two-way wing to complete their ten-man rotation (they would do well to re-sign Landry Shamet or sign Amir Coffey). But if this does end up being it for them, the Knicks did a great job adding a perfect-fitting piece to a team that came two wins away from the NBA Finals.


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
OKC Thunder Mailbag: Could Ajay Mitchell, Nikola Topic see time in G League next year?
The calendar nears August, which means the NBA is in its driest part of the year. Rosters are mostly set as front offices head into vacation for the next couple of months before training camp starts. The Oklahoma City Thunder will enter the 2025-26 season with the hopes of being repeat NBA champions. They had one of the greatest seasons ever with a 68-14 regular-season record and captured the Larry O'Brien trophy. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren were all signed to new contract extensions this offseason. As the Thunder basically run it back with the same roster, Thunder Wire will conduct regular mailbags to answer questions that fans have. One question being asked is about Nikola Topic and Ajay Mitchell. Both young guards will battle for the backup point guard spot. There's only a finite number of minutes to hand out. Could one, if not both, see time on the G League's OKC Blue next season? The answer is probably — at least for one of them. Mitchell was the rare two-way player who never played in the G League last season. Instead, he got off to a hot start and penciled his way into the rotation. Before the Thunder had a chance to send him down, toe surgery knocked him out for three months of the regular season. By the time Mitchell returned, the G League season was over. While the 23-year-old dominated the 2025 Summer League, there's still a decent chance he suits up for the Blue at least once on an assignment this upcoming year. The regular season is long enough, and Mark Daigneault frequently changes his rotations. Those two variables combined could cause Mitchell to go a couple of weeks without any real run. The best solution to that is short G League stints at home. Just for Mitchell to keep his legs warm. That's a strategy the Thunder have utilized for years. Sharing an arena and team system makes assignments and recalls as seamless as possible. Now Topic, on the other hand, seems prime to be a player who could spend plenty of time on the Blue. The 19-year-old will need time to develop — especially after being out his first year with a torn ACL. There's only so much a practice or shootaround can do for you. Live 5-on-5 reps against opponents is the best way to ensure a player learns and strengthens their weaknesses. The Thunder drafted Topic with the No. 12 pick of the 2024 NBA draft, knowing he'd be a long-term project. Finally being cleared to play, part of that involves time with the Blue. It's a luxury the NBA champion is afforded because of their rich depth and not needing a rookie to contribute for them to succeed. While Mitchell looks ready to contribute right now, Topic looks like he still needs his training wheels. Which is to be expected, considering the four-year age gap between the players. The 19-year-old could benefit from spending time with the Blue and a low-pressure environment where mistakes aren't as loud as they are at the NBA stage. The Thunder are known as one of the NBA's best developmental programs. The Blue has played a large part in that. They've squeezed every drop of juice out of their G League affiliate and have turned it into a true farm system akin to baseball. Topic and Mitchell could be the latest players who could benefit from some time with the Blue this upcoming season. The former more than the latter.