Lakers Linked to 2022 NBA Champ Following Luka Doncic’s Long-Term Deal

After inking Luka Doncic to a three-year $165 million extension last month, the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office is eager to build around their young star between now and the Feb. 6 trade deadline.

According to Lakers beat reporter Dan Woike of The Athletic, after locking Doncic down to a three-year deal, LA is planning to be aggressive in search of players who can help fuel a championship push.

While the team had previously been hesitant to acquire players on multi-year deals, as Woike wrote on Thursday, having Luka Doncic under contract for the next three seasons has led to a change of heart.

Because of that, it sounds like the Rob Pelinka-led front office could circle back around to Andrew Wiggins, a player Woike said back in July LA wasn’t interested in.

In an article released on Thursday that looked at whether Doncic’s seven-game EuroBasket run changed the Lakers’ roster priorities, Woike wrote:

“Dončić’s multi-year commitment has nudged LA’s priorities in more aggressive directions. One area the team is focused on is upgrading the wing, where it needs more two-way talent. A player like Miami’s Andrew Wiggins, whom the Lakers weren’t interested in earlier this summer, is now a more desirable player, provided the price is right.

After Wiggins landed in Miami as part of the Jimmy Butler trade in February, rumors linked the 2022 NBA champ to LA.

As Woike explained on The Zach Lowe Show in mid-July, the Lakers had no interest in Wiggins:

“I think I can put that to bed. I’m pretty confident on that front.”

Following a sensational EuroBasket campaign from Doncic, where the Slovenian star averaged 34.7 points per game, it sounds like Pelinka and Co. want to make the most of Doncic’s first season in LA.

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