Targeting a well-rounded frontcourt contributor in the offseason is a must for the Los Angeles Lakers.
If Los Angeles wants to keep Luka Doncic happy, it could acquire an NBA-champion Boston Celtics forward who can perform on both ends.
“The Dallas Mavericks have already attempted to build their team around the combination of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis,” Lake Show Life’s Svyatoslav Rovenchuk wrote Sunday.
“They failed. However, there is enough difference between how the dynamic could work this time around to offer reason for the Lakers to at least keep tabs on the availability of the Celtics center during the summer of 2025.”
“Porzingis, theoretically, ticks a lot of boxes for the Lakers on both the offensive and defensive end. The Latvian big man can attack the rim, space the floor, and protect the paint. Those are three areas in which the Lakers could use a boost.”
“However, that theory is quickly challenged by the practice of having already seen the pair of Doncic and Porzingis fail to mesh together in Dallas. The hope here comes from how the seven-footer has grown and adapted over the years.”
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Doncic and Porzingis played together for 2.5 seasons in Dallas before the Mavericks traded Porzingis, a former No. 4 overall pick, to the Washington Wizards in 2022.
Porzingis has always been an outstanding NBA talent, but from a team success standpoint, he didn’t thrive until he joined the Celtics before the 2023-24 campaign.
Although the ex-Knicks phenom was sidelined for most of the playoffs due to injuries last year, he contributed when healthy.
In Game 1 of the NBA finals against the Mavericks, Porzingis showcased his valuable pick-and-pop ability, above-average basketball IQ when getting defended by smaller opponents, and timely shot-blocking.
Porzingis finished with 20 points on 61.5% field goal shooting, 50% three-point shooting, and three blocks in a tone-setting 107-89 victory.
Although injuries and shooting efficiency in the postseason (35.8% from the field and 11.8% from deep) have been problematic for the 2018 All-Star this year, he possesses all the offensive qualities the Lakers lack, making him a realistic trade target.
With the Celtics likely considering parting with Porzingis in free agency to cut costs, Los Angeles should be prepared to present Boston with the most enticing trade package possible.
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