News often oozes unabated from Los Angeles, especially in June and July, when all sorts of chaos is unleashed.
They call it the “City of Angles” for a reason. There are also many reasons why some of the sport’s most luminous names have donned the purple and gold.
The Lakers have bigger fish to fry right now. They are locked into a second round series against the defending NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder.
L.A. enters round two as massive underdogs, picked by many — Lakers fans notwithstanding — to either lose in four or five games. And with no Luka Doncic in sight, that prediction cannot be dismissed as asinine.
If the Lakers season ends within the next 10 or so days like most are expecting, attention will be swiftly turned to the offseason. Several pressing questions will rise to the top.
The Lakers could see a big name or two head out the door. They could welcome a big name.
Los Angeles Lakers Reportedly Set to Pursue Denver Star
It was just over a year ago the Lakers shocked, stunned, baffled the sports world. Or just the world in general.
They somehow executed a seismic, landscape-shaking trade for Doncic while shipping off Anthony Davis, the star big man acquired via trade six summers earlier.
GettyLuka Doncic (C) of the Los Angeles Lakers holds his new jersey while standing alongside general manager Rob Pelinka (L) and head coach JJ Redick (R).
Doncic, still just 25 at the time, was months removed from captaining the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals. He was — and still is — widely considered a top two point guard in the league. It was simply stunning to see Dallas wave goodbye to a franchise cornerstone in exchange for an older, more injury-prone star.
The point here is the Lakers aren’t strangers to pulling off the unthinkable. If they can get Doncic, they can get anyone.
That includes Denver Nuggets star Aaron Gordon, who is reportedly set to hit multiple teams’ radar this summer.
According to NBA insider Brett Siegel, the Lakers are among those interested in trading for Gordon.
“…several teams are expected to contact the Nuggets as early as before the 2026 NBA Draft with immediate interest in Gordon,” Siegel reported. “Teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Boston Celtics are among the many win-now teams Gordon would obviously fit in with as realistic trade suitors.”
A Perfect Pairing With the Don?
Ever since adding Doncic, the Lakers have been determined to assemble the ideal supporting cast next to their superstar.
Once viewed as LeBron James’ team, Los Angeles has firmly transitioned into becoming Doncic-centric. Like every franchise’s best player, Doncic demands a roster built to compete for a title.
Gordon would deliver an instant front court upgrade for the Lakers, who have consistently struggled against athletic teams. The slashing Gordon would provide potent offense and elite defense. That is the kind of two-way impact player who often works best alongside a score-first point guard.
It would be interesting to see what the Lakers would have to sacrifice to grab Gordon. L.A. also has some things to sort out with James and Austin Reaves this summer.
James is set to enter unrestricted free agency while Reaves is extension-eligible.
Keeping both stars and adding Gordon to the mix would make L.A. considerably more formidable on paper.
With how demanding the Western Conference is, the Lakers will likely have to look at making pendulum-swinging moves to tilt the tide in their favor.
Report: Lakers Eyeing Massive Trade for Nuggets Star to Join Luka Doncic