The Los Angeles Lakers are being urged to consider an unthinkable move, trading Luka Doncic to unlock flexibility for another star, as defensive struggles fuel doubts about whether their newest centerpiece fits a title blueprint.
The 2025/26 season marks Doncic’s first full campaign in Los Angeles, and while his scoring brilliance has dazzled nightly, the Lakers’ recent slide has reignited debate over roster balance and long term construction.
That debate intensified after analyst Max Kellerman floated a dramatic idea, questioning if keeping Doncic is compatible with winning at the highest level, especially as the Lakers slip in the Western Conference standings.
The timing sharpens the stakes, with the February 5 trade deadline nearing and the Lakers hovering around eighth, far from preseason championship expectations.
Kellerman believes a Doncic trade could return a massive haul, potentially triple the assets of a Austin Reaves deal, opening paths to defensive stars and deeper roster balance.
“I think it’s a problem if all of your resources are funneled to those two places,” Kellerman said on the Mason and Ireland Show. “I’m not convinced that you need to get rid of Austin Reaves.
“I think there’s a world – it will never happen – where you could get to deal Luka because you get more for him than Reaves, then build around him.
“It’s not about dissing Reaves.”
Additionally, Kellerman suggested trading Doncic rather than Reaves, arguing that overlapping skill sets and defensive gaps demand a bold rethink.
His argument centers on redundancy, with both Doncic and Reaves thriving with the ball, creating inefficiencies and limiting lineup flexibility when defensive stops matter most.
“If you believe there’s a redundancy between Austin and Luka,” Kellerman said on the Game Over podcast. “Luka is a better player than Austin Reaves, I understand that. Luka’s a fantastic player offensively.
“But if you want to win a championship, I believe that your best player needs to be someone who is willing to at least play team defense, like Steph Curry.
“Steph’s a bad defender, but he is a willing defender. If your best player isn’t that, very hard to win a championship.”
This suggestion lands as the Lakers limp through a midseason skid, exposing a defense ranked 24th league wide, surrendering 117.8 points per 100 possessions during a damaging 4-13 stretch.
Los Angeles opened the season 18-6, but injuries to Reaves and Jarred Vanderbilt destabilized rotations as they dropped towards .500, before rebounding back into the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
Doncic and LeBron star as Lakers smash Hawks
The trade chatter contrasted sharply with the Lakers’ explosive showing against Atlanta, where their stars delivered a reminder of the roster’s ceiling when everything clicks together.
LeBron James posted 31 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds, nearly recording a triple double, as Los Angeles snapped a three game skid with a commanding 141-116 win.
Doncic complemented James with 27 points and 12 assists, guiding the Lakers through a dominant stretch that produced a 32 point lead early in the second half.
The victory marked only the second four game losing streak since acquiring Doncic, underscoring how rare sustained struggles have been despite recent defensive lapses.
Los Angeles shot nearly 62 percent from the field, pouring in 19 three pointers, a stark turnaround from their dismal shooting performance in Sacramento days earlier.
Doncic, playing through left groin soreness, ignited a 17-0 second quarter run, draining three consecutive three pointers and overwhelming Atlanta’s perimeter defense.
By halftime, the Lakers led 81-60, their highest scoring half of the season, showcasing the offensive firepower that fuels belief in Doncic’s fit alongside James.
Atlanta mounted a late rally, trimming the deficit to 11, but Los Angeles responded calmly, restoring control behind crisp ball movement and timely shooting.
Despite the win, scrutiny remains, as analysts question whether such offensive bursts can consistently mask defensive shortcomings in playoff environments.
Through 41 games, Doncic leads the league at 33.4 points per night, adding 7.9 rebounds and 8.8 assists, powering a top ten offense.
Defensively, he owns a career best 110.5 rating and 1.6 steals per game, yet critics argue championship teams demand more than incremental improvement.
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