A key figure in the Los Angeles Lakers’ acquisition of Luka Doncic was general manager Rob Pelinka. However, as Pelinka meticulously evaluated the potential trade, a significant concern arose regarding the role and impact on guard Austin Reaves.
The former Oklahoma standout had flourished with the ball in his hands, and the arrival of a dominant ball-handler like Doncic naturally raised questions about how Reaves’s offensive opportunities might be affected.
This particular consideration, among others, weighed heavily on Pelinka’s mind throughout the trade discussions, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“In the monthlong process of the Luka Doncic trade discussions, of course, you’re thinking about the players you may possibly have to trade in a deal like that, AD and Max Christie,” Pelinka, the Lakers’ vice president of basketball operations and general manager, told ESPN. “[But] one of the people I was thinking of the most in my head was just AR, because I knew how close he had gotten to Max and AD and I knew bringing in another primary ball handler would have implications for him.”
Los Angeles Lakers View Austin Reaves As Part Of Team Future
Pelinka’s concerns extended beyond mere on-court fit. Reaves had cultivated strong relationships with Anthony Davis and Max Christie, both of whom were valuable contributors to the Lakers. However, the opportunity to acquire a player of Doncic’s exceptional caliber is a rare occurrence in the NBA, and Pelinka ultimately felt compelled to seize it.
Despite these persistent reservations, Pelinka ultimately executed the trade. The result has been the formation of a formidable Big 3 in Los Angeles, comprised of Doncic, Reaves, and LeBron James. Reaves himself has recently spoken about the growing trust and synergy he shares with both James and Doncic, highlighting his ability to play effectively alongside them and vice versa.
While initial doubts may have lingered, the general manager found a way to reconcile his concerns with the immense potential of the trade.
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“My theory is basketball geniuses that love to win, find ways to work and click together,” Pelinka explained. “And we knew LeBron was a basketball savant, who wanted to win at the highest level. Obviously, Luka Doncic, a basketball savant, wants to win at the highest level. And AR is coming into his own there. He gets the game, he sees it. He can fit, really, with anybody.”
Since trading for Doncic, the Lakers have compiled an impressive 20-11 record and currently sit third in the Western Conference with an overall mark of 48-30. Both their offense and defense appear to be operating at a high level as the regular season draws to a close.
As they gear up for a highly anticipated playoff run, the Big 3 of Doncic, Reaves, and James possesses the potential to achieve significant success, perhaps even sooner than some might have initially anticipated.