{"id":122252,"date":"2025-02-06T01:56:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T06:56:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=122252"},"modified":"2025-02-06T01:59:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T06:59:39","slug":"lakers-luka-doncic-request-mark-williams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/06\/lakers-luka-doncic-request-mark-williams\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers Waste No Time In Rewarding Luka Don\u010di\u0107"},"content":{"rendered":"

It didn’t take long for Los Angeles to start adding pieces to compliment\u00a0<\/span>Luka\u00a0Don\u010di\u0107<\/span><\/a>\u00a0as Lakers GM Rob Pelinka swiped\u00a0<\/span>Mark Williams<\/span><\/a>\u00a0from the Charlotte Hornets in the late minutes of Wednesday night. Giving up\u00a0<\/span>Dalton Knecht<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in the deal was a shock, considering the excitement around his draft selection and potential as a three-point line threat. Nevertheless, the Lakers needed to fill a gaping hole, and Knecht helped them do it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lakers Waste No Time In Rewarding Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/h2>\n

Luka\u00a0Don\u010di\u0107 Told Lakers GM Rob Pelinka He Plays Best with A Vertical Lob Threat…He Has One Now<\/h3>\n

After the shocking trade that still has many reeling, the loss of\u00a0<\/span>Anthony Davis<\/span><\/a>\u00a0left an even larger gap in the Lakers roster that had to be attended to. Mind you, the Lakers needed depth at the center position all season. It became as evident as ever without AD for defensive reasons. A day after Pelinka said of the center market being dry, he went and found a more than capable center. The development changes things dramatically for the Lakers going forward. Not only does Williams replace Davis, but the\u00a0<\/span>trade for the Hornets big man also<\/span><\/a> gifts\u00a0Don\u010di\u0107 with a player precisely like the one he supposedly described to Pelinka.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luka had a pair of big men to use in Dallas\u2014<\/span>Daniel Gafford<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Dereck Lively II<\/span><\/a>\u2014which worked perfectly with Luka’s game. The Lakers had to find players of the same or similar for him. NBA insider for ESPN Ramona Shelburne provided the inside scoop on conversations between Pelinka and\u00a0<\/span>Don\u010di\u0107<\/span><\/a>\u00a0after the weekend trade, of which a lob threat was discussed\u00a0<\/span>(Twitter link)<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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“Lakers had been looking for a big but once they got Luka this week, they knew exactly what kind of big they wanted. From what I\u2019ve heard, in Luka\u2019s initial basketball conversations he told Lakers GM Rob Pelinka he played best when he had a vertical lob threat. When Charlotte called saying they liked Knecht and might be willing to discuss Mark Williams, the deal came into place.”\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/div>\n
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Lakers had been looking for a big but once they got Luka this week, they knew exactly what kind of big they wanted. From what I\u2019ve heard, in Luka\u2019s initial basketball conversations he told Lakers GM Rob Pelinka he played best when he had a vertical lob threat. When Charlotte\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) February 6, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n