Luka Doncic sends clear message to Lakers on roster they can't afford to ignore

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

Luka Doncic sends clear message to Lakers on roster they can't afford to ignore originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It goes without saying that the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t where they need to be roster-wise following another championship-less campaign.

Of course, it didn’t help that Luka Doncic’s nagging hamstring injury forced the Lakers to compete against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference without their No. 1 playmaker (resulting in a sweep). Still, it doesn’t erase the fact that the Lakers have glaring weaknesses heading into a pivotal offseason.

Doncic recently sent a clear message to the Lakers on the state of the franchise’s roster, and it would be in Los Angeles best interest to take it seriously.

“I think mainly shooters and a big man who can run the pick-and-roll and jump so I can pass to him,” Doncic said during a recent interview with ‘Drafteados’ when asked about the Lakers' current needs. “If I have shooters, they won’t double me as much, and it helps me out.”

Doncic essentially took a subtle shot at Deandre Ayton during his near-20-minute late June sitdown, and he had every right to do so. Ayton was brought in last offseason to give Doncic a high-energy lob threat who regularly rolls hard to the rim and finishes strong through contact.

While Ayton was the second most efficient two-point scorer in the league this past season (67.1%), he developed a negative reputation for picking and choosing when he wanted to use his aggression on the offensive end.

Based on Doncic’s comments, it’s reasonable to assume he comprehends the Lakers will never reach their full potential with Ayton as the starting center, which should prompt them to target assets such as Walker Kessler, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Walker Kessler.

Regarding Doncic’s perimeter shooting plea, the Lakers are in luck, as trustworthy three-point shooters such as Trey Murphy, Klay Thompson, and Peyton Watson will be on the market. Hopefully, for the Lakers’ sake, they make the right moves to give Doncic the weapons he needs in 2026-27.

More NBA news:

• 
  Spurs predicted to outbid Warriors for $101 million Lakers star, four-time NBA champion
  
  
• 
  Lakers rumor is good news for Luka Doncic, bad news for LeBron James
  
  
• 
  Lakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $175 million two-time MVP
  

Continue reading...