During Jordan Brand's "The One" event in Madrid, Luka Dončić laid out the specific pieces he believes will turn the Los Angeles Lakers into a championship contender. He told reporters, "I think mainly shooters and a big man who can run the pick-and-roll and jump so I can pass to him." The guard added that more perimeter fire would reduce the double teams he attracts, and that a high-flying, shot-blocking center would give him a reliable outlet in the pick-and-roll.
The comments arrived after a season in which the Lakers finished fourth in the Western Conference and were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. Finishing behind the three teams occupying the top three spots, the club fell short of its title aspirations. Dončić’s own game is built on drawing multiple defenders; his ability to score from the paint, mid-range and beyond forces opponents to collapse, creating opportunities for teammates who can stretch the floor.
When a defender sprints to the rim, a reliable shooter forces the defense to stay honest, opening lanes for a rolling big man. In Dallas, Dončić thrived with athletic centers such as Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford, using his elite passing to generate easy baskets around the rim. After arriving in Los Angeles, he showed flashes of similar chemistry with Jaxson Hayes, underscoring the value of a mobile, rim-running big who can also protect the paint.
The Lakers’ backcourt of Dončić and Austin Reaves is among the league’s most dynamic, but the roster lacks a true rim-protector and a consistent outside threat. Front office executives have already been linked to several centers as they explore ways to improve the frontcourt, a need highlighted by the team’s defensive deficiencies. Adding three-point specialists would give Dončić a spacing triangle alongside Reaves, allowing him to operate at the top of the key without fear of being trapped.
The upcoming free-agency period will determine whether the Lakers can acquire the shooters and athletic big that Dončić outlined. Securing reliable perimeter marks and a mobile, shot-blocking center would align the roster with the guard’s blueprint and give Los Angeles a clearer path toward a title run.
Los Angeles Lakers 