La Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka should consider expanding one of his key players to ensure that Luka Doncic is his happiest.
The 2024-25 regular season sparked a ray of hope for the Los Angeles Lakers as the Los Angeles Lakers won the third seed in the Western Conference.
However, the happiness of the Laker nation did not last long as it was eliminated in the first round at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
With the Lakers facing early elimination, it has become clear that the front office will need to make some important changes to their roster before next season.
Signing the Quality Center must be the number one priority of purple and gold this offseason. It cannot be denied.
Given that the Lakers have more than $50 million contracts on expired contracts, GM Rob Pelinka should have incredible flexibility.
Among these deals is Dorian Finney Smith’s $15.3 million player option. There’s nothing about whether DFS opts in or declines and signs a better deal, but Pelinka needs to achieve the latter.
Finney-Smith averaged 7.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game for the Lakers last season. But even more importantly, Finney-Smith’s re-signment could be key to convincing superstar Luka Doncic to sign a long deal with the Lakers.
Currently, Doncic is eligible to sign a four-year, $228 million contract extension with the Lakers ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Despite the rocky ending of the 2024-25 season, there’s no doubt that Doncic is currently one of the most talented superstars in the NBA.
For reasons beyond the understanding of the average NBA fan, the Dallas Mavericks have decided to say goodbye to Don Sic on the blockbuster trade.
Whether or not there was luck for the Lakers, it’s time for Perinka to ensure that Luka continues to commit to the team. To do this, he needs to surround Donsic with people he trusts, including Finney Smith.
The two stars shared the locker room with Mavs. Additionally, Donsic was happy to find DFS on the roster when he was traded with the Lakers.
Donsic played under 30 games for the Lakers during the regular season, but it’s clear he shares a great bond with Finney Smith.
With that in mind, Perinka needs to do everything in his power to convince Finney Smith to re-sign purple and gold. Therefore, it improves the Lakers’ odds that keep Don Chic happy in the long run.