The Los Angeles Lakers are officially in the Luka Doncic era.
After being acquired in a weekend blockbuster, Doncic was officially introduced as the newest Laker during Tuesday's press conference. It was the fanbase's first look at the Slovenian superstar after he was acquired in a three-team deal that sent fan favorite Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks.
As excited as Lakers fans are to see Doncic team up with LeBron James, it goes without saying that the roster still has room for improvement. The time to address those needs is ticking, though, as the NBA trade deadline quickly approaches on Thursday.
But as much as the Lakers would love to add another player to help with a deep playoff run, general manager Rob Pelinka's latest comments suggest that executing another trade might be easier said than done.
Lakers Rumors: Rob Pelinka Struggling to Trade for Another Big
After Doncic was introduced to the media, GM Pelinka opened up about his plans heading into Thursday's deadline. As much as the 55-year-old wants to "build a roster that fits JJ Redick’s basketball philosophy," he admitted that it's been a struggle to find a backup center.
"We know we have a need for a big," Pelinka said, per The Athletic's Jovan Buha. "The market for a big... is very dry."
According to fellow NBA insider Dave McMenamin, Pelinka only anticipates a "move around the margins" in the coming days and will attempt a bigger impact move in the offseason.
The Lakers have been looking for a backup center even dating back to when Davis was still on the roster. Now that the nine-time NBA All-Star has been shipped off to the Lone Star State, Los Angeles' need to improve its backcourt has become more pressing.
Several veteran big men have been named in trade rumors leading up to this year's deadline. Portland Blazers center Robert Williams and Washington Wizards rebounder Jonas Valanciunas are two names often thrown in mock trades, and LA Sportshub's Cem Yolbulan even recently penned a trade proposal that sees the Atlanta Hawks trading Clint Capela to the Lakers.
Following the Doncic deal, the Lakers can still trade two 2025 second-rounders, as well as their 2031 first-round pick. They also have access to first-round pick swaps in 2026 and 2028, giving them various tools to potentially trade for a veteran or two.
Time will tell if Pelinka can do anything to improve Los Angeles' championship outlook in the next 48 hours. For now, the Lakers are heading into the trade deadline with the sixth-best 2024-25 NBA Finals odds (+2000) on FanDuel Sportsbook.
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