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The debate over whether or not Luka Doncic, also known as “Luka Magic,” has lost his fourth-quarter magic is a hot-button issue. In the meantime, Doncic, 26, reportedly asked the Los Angeles Lakers to trade for a specific NBA player, per Athlon Sports. Doncic’s request is interesting, to say the least. Read on for the NBA player’s name and why Doncic requested the first place.
Luka Doncic Asks Los Angeles Lakers
According to Athlon Sports, Luka Doncic’s preferred lob partner was Charlotte Hornets Center Mark Williams. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka traded Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, and a future first-round pick for Williams, 23, on February 6, 2025. However, Pelinka’s trade was rescinded due to the Hornets failing to meet part of the deal, per ESPN. Still, Doncic preferred Williams, who reportedly reminded him of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II.
Doncic In Los Angeles
Luka Doncic is one of the most popular players in the NBA. Since 2018, Doncic has proved to the NBA world he’s a force to be reckoned with, along with a generational talent. Doncic has his flaws, but his talents — especially his ability to create space and get to his shot at any point of the clock — outweigh the former. The Los Angeles Lakers just happened to struggle without an excess of size, talent, and endurance in 2024-25.
Doncic hasn’t been the only star in Los Angeles, California. LeBron James has been a shining star in Los Angeles since 2018. Doncic was simply starting his NBA career as a member of the Dallas Mavericks that year. Doncic is a former third overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft out of Real Madrid in Madrid, Spain. The 2024-25 Lakers squad looked solid on paper but turned out to be incomplete in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Final Thoughts
Luka Doncic is arguably a top 75 player in the history of the NBA. However, Doncic wasn’t an immediate solution to the Los Angeles Lakers’ struggles in 2024-25 and perhaps won’t be a namesake solution until 2025-26 or later. James reportedly hopes Doncic will stay in Los Angeles for the long term — a possibility as Doncic’s fiancée, model Anamaria Goltes, receives more than enough modeling gigs in the “City of Angels.”
The Lakers were eliminated from the 2025 NBA Playoffs following a 103-96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 at the Arena on April 30, 2025. Minnesota won the series 4-1. Rudy Gobert led the Timberwolves with 27 points and 24 rebounds, while Doncic led the Lakers with 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists. Doncic’s performance was good, but he can’t carry the Lakers on his own back, just like the Dallas Mavericks.
The Lakers were out-rebounded by the Timberwolves 54-37, including 18-8 on the offensive glass, in Game 5. Pelinka held his end-of-the-season press conference on May 1, 2025. Pelinka, 55, told reporters, “We know this offseason, one of our primary goals is going to be to add size in our frontcourt at the center position.
“This roster needs more size and needs a center. That’s a very clear and obvious by-product of trading potentially the best big in the league to Dallas to get a point guard. Of course, that’s going to open up a huge hole … The trade deadline and the moments up to it don’t allow you the requisite time to explore every single unturned stone to add a big to our roster. We just didn’t have the time after the Luka trade. But now we do.”
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