Apr 9, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford (21) and Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Lakers did not trade for Luka to win in 2025. Why they rescinded the trade they made for Charlotte center Mark Williams at the deadline is beyond me. He’s 7 feet tall, averaged 15.2 points and 10.2 rebounds for the Hornets and had a 26-16 game here in Dallas after LA deemed him unfit. Didn’t look that way to the Mavericks.

After the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February, the five-time All-Star met with general manager Rob Pelinka and asked him to trade for a specific player. Doncic wanted to play with a center who was a lob threat since he had success playing with Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II in Dallas.