Los Angeles Lakers’ Stance on Roster Improvements ‘Has Shifted’ After Luka Dončić’s Play in EuroBasket
The Los Angeles Lakers’ stance on roster improvements “has shifted” after NBA superstar Luka Dončić‘s play in EuroBasket, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.
Dončić looked like arguably the best basketball player in the world during EuroBasket. He averaged 34.7 points for Slovenia.
The Lakers are interested in trading for Miami Heat small forward Andrew Wiggins. The swingman will make $28.2 million in 2025-26. He has a player option worth $30.2 million for the 2026-27 season.
The Heat acquired Wiggins from the Golden State Warriors in the blockbuster Jimmy Butler trade last season. Wiggins put up 18.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per game with the Warriors and Heat.
The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games. Dončić, who signed a three-year extension this offseason, recruited Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to Los Angeles.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick is expected to start Dončić, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, LeBron James and Ayton next season. Reaves recruited Jake LaRavia in free agency this offseason.
Dončić has lost 30 pounds since last summer, a league source told DallasHoopsJournal. The five-time All-Star was listed at 230 pounds with the Dallas Mavericks and Lakers last season. He’s at 200 pounds right now.
One of the top players in the NBA, Dončić appeared in 28 games with the Lakers last season after the Mavericks shockingly traded him in February. The talented point-forward averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks with the purple and gold.
Luka Dončić enters next season third in NBA history in points per game. He has career averages of 28.2 points with the Mavericks and Lakers.
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