The Dončić Trade: Do the LA Lakers have a chance of winning the NBA Championship?

A week ago this sentence would’ve sounded crazy: Luka Doncic is a Laker. Now, it’s a reality. In the earliest hours of February 2nd, the Lakers managed to wrestle Doncic away from the Mavericks in what has been referred to as the most shocking trade in NBA history. A top-3 player getting shipped away from the team where it was presumed he’d spend his entire career for an aging, injury-prone big man in Anthony Davis and just one first-round pick is incredibly difficult to fathom. So much so, in fact, that many thought ESPN’s Shams Charania was hacked when he had broken the news via his X account.

But nonetheless, the trade is real. Luka will be playing alongside LeBron, and AD will play with Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson in Dallas. The question is, with the trade said and done, what exactly changes?

Obviously, this was a long-term trade for the Lakers. As a team whose best player is 40 years old, they needed a young star that could be a successor to LeBron James, and Doncic is the perfect candidate. On the other hand, there’s no denying that losing Anthony Davis will hurt them this season. Don’t be mistaken, this is a trade that the Lakers would make — and should make — eleven times out of ten. But having struggled on the defensive end all year, they will certainly miss the presence AD brings to the table as one of this generation’s greatest big men.

Luckily for them, former first round pick and 7’0″ center Jaxson Hayes has been thrust under the spotlight following Davis’ recent abdominal injury, and has shined in his opportunity. Thursday night against the Wizards, Hayes put up 10 points and 10 rebounds, putting to work his defensive prowess as well as going a perfect 4/4 from the field. He also led the team with three blocks.

In their game against the Knicks on Saturday night, Hayes led the team with three steals, and had a solid night offensively as well, making both of his two attempts from the field. If Hayes continues to be a viable option for the Lakers, he will be a big force in subsiding the team’s defensive issues that will more than likely show in the absence of Davis.

Despite the problems they may face on defense, it is clear that the Lakers have improved with the addition of Doncic. BetMGM has nearly doubled the Lakers’ championship odds, jumping from +4000 to +1800.

Doncic is one of the best offensive talents in the NBA, but his key to leading the Lakers to success will be staying on the court. A left calf strain has kept Doncic out since Christmas and has limited him to just 22 games so far this season. He is expected back around February 10th, but the Lakers must be cautious in his return, and not allow him to play until completely healthy. However, despite being in 5th place in the Western Conference, the Lakers are only four games ahead of the 11th place Warriors, so they will most certainly want their new superstar on the court as soon as they can get him there.

The Mavericks, on the other hand, add some much needed defensive presence in Davis, but in head-scratching fashion as they have given up the face of their franchise to do so. Now, they are a team of seasoned veterans, led by the likes of Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Klay Thompson. BetMGM does not like the duo of Davis and Irving nearly as much as they do Doncic and Irving, tanking their championship odds from +2000 to +3000.

As the current 8th place team just half a game ahead of 11th, the Mavs will need to find a way to keep their heads above water without the superstar that led them to a Finals appearance last year. Teams around the Mavs in the standings such as the Timberwolves, Kings, and Suns should take this opportunity to gain ground and secure positions in playoff or play-in contention, especially with newly acquired Anthony Davis expected to miss his first few games with Dallas due to his abdominal muscle strain.

The Doncic trade definitely shakes things up in the Western Conference landscape. The Lakers have become an undeniable offensive threat, however they have a lot of work to do on defense before they can truly be considered among the elites of the West. The important thing is that they have their next face of the franchise locked up, leaving them in good hands for years to come. The Mavericks have improved on defense, but at the cost of a superstar that was destined to spend his career in Dallas. Only time will tell exactly how this trade pans out for both teams, but one thing is clear as of right now: it’s all coming up Lakers.