One Western Conference executive is unsure of the Los Angeles Lakers’ potential this season since center Jaxson Hayes is the only lob threat for Luka Doncic.
“When Jaxson Hayes is your only lob threat, it’s only going to look so good,” a West executive told ESPN. “[Doncic] is a great player, so I assume it will all level itself out, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen this year.”
The Lakers made a blockbuster deal for Doncic ahead of the trade deadline, sending out All-NBA big man Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks in the process.
Los Angeles did attempt to make a move for a big man that could’ve been a lob threat for Doncic, attempting to trade for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams. However, after the two sides originally agreed to a deal, it was rescinded after the Lakers failed Williams on his physical.
Since that deal was rescinded after the deadline, the Lakers are left with Hayes as their top center on the roster. Los Angeles has also brought in veteran Alex Len at the center spot, but he hasn’t played much since joining the franchise.
Even though the Lakers may lack an elite lob threat, they have a ton of offensive talent on the roster among Doncic, LeBron James and Austin Reaves. In fact, Lakers head coach J.J. Redick raved about the trio after Los Angeles knocked off the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.
“I think Luka needs to be the guy that controls the offense,” Redick said. “And Bron and AR, because we’re gonna stagger everybody, they’re gonna have their times to be on the ball. But all three of those guys are very intelligent basketball players, and we can create mismatches. We can get teams in the blender.”
The Lakers have only played a few games with Doncic in action, but they are 8-2 in their last 10 games overall and hold the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is also just two games out of the No. 2 seed in the West after the Memphis Grizzlies lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night.
Since joining the Lakers, Doncic is averaging 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists in just 27.8 minutes per game. As he gets back into a flow after missing time with a calf injury, Doncic should return to the All-NBA player that he’s been so far in his career.
The Lakers are certainly hoping that the combination of Doncic and James will be enough to compete with any team in the West once the playoffs roll around.
