Los Angeles Lakers GM thought Mavericks were joking with initial Luka Doncic offer

The Lakers GM and Luka Dončić: A Missed Opportunity?

In the annals of NBA history, there are several moments that stand out as turning points for teams and players. One such moment occurred during the 2018 NBA Draft, when the Dallas Mavericks traded up to secure the rights to Luka Dončić, a decision that would go on to shape the future of the franchise. However, before the Mavericks made that fateful move, the Los Angeles Lakers—another storied franchise—were briefly involved in trade talks that could have radically altered the trajectory of their team.

At the time, the Lakers were looking to rebuild and retool around their young core, led by LeBron James, who had just signed with the team in the offseason. Their general manager (GM), Rob Pelinka, was in charge of overseeing that process, navigating the complexity of both immediate and long-term success. But when the Mavericks initially made their pitch to the Lakers regarding Luka Dončić, Pelinka thought they were joking. This was not just a misunderstanding but a reflection of the skepticism surrounding Dončić’s transition from European basketball to the NBA.

The 2018 NBA Draft and Luka Dončić’s Rise

Luka Dončić was coming off a historic season with Real Madrid in Spain’s Liga ACB, where he had won the EuroLeague title, EuroLeague MVP, and was the Final Four MVP. He had proven himself as one of the most talented and versatile players in the world outside of the NBA, but there were still many questions about how his game would translate to the NBA. His incredible basketball IQ, playmaking ability, and scoring were evident, but some scouts were concerned about his athleticism and ability to defend at the NBA level.

However, there were teams—most notably the Mavericks—who saw Dončić’s potential and decided that he was worth the risk. The Lakers, on the other hand, had their own priorities.

The Lakers’ Rebuilding Phase and LeBron James’ Arrival

The Lakers’ 2018 season was supposed to be the beginning of their return to prominence, after several years of mediocrity following the retirement of Kobe Bryant. LeBron James, arguably the best player in the world at the time, had just joined the team in free agency. The Lakers’ front office, led by Pelinka, saw this as their chance to build around LeBron in the short-term, while still trying to maintain flexibility for future success. With this in mind, the Lakers were looking at prospects who could complement LeBron’s game right away, rather than focusing on players who might need more time to develop.

Pelinka and the Lakers’ brass were especially keen on acquiring a player who could fill a need alongside LeBron and be a key contributor immediately. As the draft approached, the Lakers were in possession of the No. 2 pick, a position of great value. However, the team also needed to address the balance of their roster, particularly in terms of shooting, defense, and playmaking.

The Mavericks’ Trade Proposal and the Lakers’ Initial Reaction

In the lead-up to the 2018 NBA Draft, there were rumors swirling about the Mavericks’ desire to trade up for Luka Dončić. Dallas, picking at No. 5, was desperate to secure the Slovenian phenom, and the Lakers’ No. 2 pick seemed like the logical target. According to reports, the Mavericks made an offer to the Lakers that involved trading their No. 5 pick along with additional assets in order to move up and select Dončić.

Pelinka, however, was not immediately sold on the idea. In fact, he thought the offer was too good to be true. Given Dončić’s background in Europe, combined with the fact that he wasn’t the athletic specimen of some of the other top prospects, Pelinka was not convinced that Dončić would have the same kind of immediate impact that someone like Deandre Ayton, who was widely considered the best player in the draft, might have.

Moreover, the Lakers were focused on immediate needs and potential roster construction around LeBron James. Pelinka was weighing whether the team would be better off selecting a player who could contribute directly to LeBron’s success or whether it made more sense to bring in a longer-term project like Dončić, who, despite his immense skill, would likely require some time to fully adjust to the NBA.

It wasn’t that Pelinka didn’t see the potential in Dončić—it was that, at that time, the Lakers front office had other priorities. There was skepticism about Luka’s ability to make an immediate impact, especially given the team’s timeline and goals. Pelinka’s initial disbelief at the Mavericks’ offer was rooted in the notion that Dončić might not yet be the “sure thing” that other players were considered to be.

The Mavericks’ Bold Move

While Pelinka and the Lakers were still mulling over the offer, the Mavericks took matters into their own hands. On the day of the draft, they executed a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, who held the No. 3 pick. In exchange for the No. 3 pick and a future first-round pick, Dallas moved up to the No. 3 spot and selected Luka Dončić. The Hawks, who had been targeting Trae Young, gladly accepted the deal and selected the sharpshooting point guard from Oklahoma at No. 5.

In hindsight, this trade by the Mavericks looks like one of the most brilliant moves in NBA history. Luka Dončić went on to become a generational talent, quickly establishing himself as one of the top players in the NBA. His ability to control the game as a scorer, playmaker, and leader has made him the cornerstone of the Mavericks’ franchise and one of the most electrifying players to watch in recent years.

On the other hand, the Lakers, who ultimately selected center Mo Bamba with the No. 2 pick (trading the pick to the Orlando Magic), did not seem to make the immediate splash they had hoped for. While Bamba is a talented player in his own right, the decision to bypass Dončić in favor of other options has been seen as a missed opportunity in retrospect, especially given how Dončić has exceeded expectations in just a few short years.

The Lakers’ Redemption

Despite their failure to land Luka Dončić, the Lakers were able to build a championship contender around LeBron James in the following seasons. The franchise made moves to bring in other key pieces, such as Anthony Davis, and ultimately won the 2020 NBA Championship. The Lakers’ success during this period was due to a combination of roster moves, player development, and LeBron’s leadership on and off the court.

However, the absence of a player like Dončić—who is already one of the best players in the league—raises questions about what might have been. Had the Lakers taken a different approach in 2018, they might have been able to pair LeBron with a player like Luka, whose skill set would complement James’ in ways that few others could. The idea of Dončić running the offense while LeBron operated as a scorer, leader, and facilitator would have been a terrifying combination for opposing teams. The Lakers could have had their franchise player of the future while still competing for championships in the present.

Looking Back: A Moment of Regret?

The Lakers’ decision not to acquire Luka Dončić is one of those rare “what if” scenarios in the NBA. There were certainly valid reasons for their skepticism at the time, as no one could have predicted just how quickly Dončić would adjust to the NBA and become a superstar. However, in hindsight, it’s clear that the Lakers may have missed an opportunity to secure a player who could have carried the team for years to come.

For Pelinka and the Lakers, the sting of missing out on Dončić may not be as painful now, given the team’s recent success. But it will be interesting to see how the trajectory of both franchises unfolds in the coming years. With LeBron aging and the Lakers’ future uncertain, the fact that the Mavericks have Luka Dončić as their centerpiece only adds to the contrast between the two teams.