{"id":94127,"date":"2024-09-03T11:44:33","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T15:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=94127"},"modified":"2024-09-03T11:44:33","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T15:44:33","slug":"ex-lakers-champion-warns-about-trading-for-luka-doncic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/03\/ex-lakers-champion-warns-about-trading-for-luka-doncic\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Lakers Champion Warns About Trading for Luka Doncic"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Lakers were always in the hunt for stars, and this offseason is no different. The latest <\/span>rumor<\/span><\/a> that the team is eyeing Mavericks star <\/span>Luka Doncic<\/span><\/a> may have been surprising to some, but it also comes with the territory of having championship expectations. One former Laker\u2014who knows a thing or two about winning rings\u2014recently advised the franchise against trading for the five-time All-Star.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ex-Lakers Champion Warns About Trading for Luka Doncic<\/b><\/h2>\n

Former Player Takes Shots at Doncic<\/b><\/h3>\n

On a recent episode of his podcast, \u201cBig Shot Bob,\u201d seven-time champion <\/span>Robert Horry<\/span><\/a> was asked about the rumors connecting Doncic to the purple and gold, and responded:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou gotta think about this\u2026He ain\u2019t the best defensive player now. That\u2019s the Lakers problem. You\u2019ve gotta have some athletic guys that can play some defense. Luka, he can score with the best of them, but we also know you gotta take beers out of his hand because he ain\u2019t the one that [stays] in shape. He [is] gonna be good, but he ain\u2019t gonna be what you need, probably.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Doncic<\/span><\/a>\u2014who finished third in MVP voting\u2014is currently under contract for three more seasons and is owed nearly $138 million in that span. Last season, the <\/span>2024 scoring champion<\/span><\/a> averaged nearly 34 points and 10 assists per game on .487\/.382\/.786 splits and led Dallas to their first NBA Finals appearance since 2011. There is currently no indication that Mark Cuban and Nico Harrison are hoping to blow up the team\u2014especially not after the newfound success\u2014but the rumor has certainly sparked conversations in NBA circles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Are Horry\u2019s Criticisms Valid?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Horry brings up solid points when evaluating Doncic against the Lakers\u2019 needs. While he has averaged north of 20 points per game in every season of his career, Doncic has historically been a defensive liability. Those woes were <\/span>exemplified during the NBA Finals<\/span><\/a>, highlighted by him fouling out in a pivotal Game 3. For a Lakers team that has struggled with point-of-attack defense\u2014in part, due to injuries to key players\u2014adding a one-sided superstar in Doncic won\u2019t help them on that end of the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

But while Doncic hasn\u2019t beaten the criticism of his defense, he has leaped above the concerns about his athleticism. Doncic has previously said he\u2019s <\/span>\u201cathletic in different ways\u201d<\/span><\/a> and that, \u201cNot everything is about jumping and running fast.\u201d His basketball IQ was also evident in a recent interview with former teammate and\u2014ironically\u2014the Lakers\u2019 current head coach, <\/span>JJ Redick<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Part 2 of our Luka teaser\u2026<\/p>\n

JJ: How much do you practice the full speed to the decel?<\/p>\n

Luka: I didn\u2019t practice that.<\/p>\n

JJ: You\u2019re a sick f*ck.pic.twitter.com\/ONSNdsg0g1<\/a><\/p>\n

— Jason Gallagher (@jga41agher) February 8, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n