One Year After Luka Doncic Trade Are Lakers Closer?

One year after acquiring Luka Dončić, the Lakers are 29-19 and still searching for answers. After a 112-100 loss to the Knicks, LeBron said, "I can only speak to the group that we have here... Me speaking on anything other than that is not my pay grade." Los Angeles is 17-10 when LeBron and Dončić play together but is slightly outscored with them on the floor. The bigger issues are injuries, poor 3-point shooting and uneven defense, and the team’s shift to make Dončić the primary focal point has required adjustments. Merlin sees two generational talents learning to orbit the same constellation. Talent alone will not lift them over deeper, healthier Western foes. If the Lakers shore up spacing, defense and get Austin Reaves back healthy, they turn from promising to dangerous; without that, they remain a longshot.