EL SEGUNDO — Luka Doncic’s Lakers debut, which is imminent, won’t be on Thursday night – the same day as the NBA’s trade deadline.
And after trading for the 25-year-old, five-time All-Star over the weekend, it isn’t clear if there are any other moves for the Lakers’ front office, led by General Manager Rob Pelinka, to make ahead of the league’s Thursday noon PT trade deadline.
But what is clear is that they’re going into Thursday collectively heading in the right direction.
The Lakers (29-19) enter Thursday’s home game against the Golden State Warriors at Crypto.com Arena having won seven of their past eight games – including six by double digits – and nine of their last 11 ahead after going 5-1 on their “Grammy” road trip.
“We’ve been trending in the right direction, adding a guy like that, it’s gonna make it so much easier for us, especially on the offensive end,” forward Dorian Finney-Smith said after Wednesday’s practice, the team’s first since acquiring Doncic. “We got LD and LeBron [James], they’re gonna draw so much attention. It’s gonna make it real easy for guys like me, who just gotta catch and shoot and defend. It’s gonna be a lot of [opportunities] out there.”
The highly anticipated debut of Doncic in a Lakers uniform will have to wait, at least for a couple of days, as he works his way back from a strained left calf injury that has sidelined him for nearly 1½ months.
Coach JJ Redick said Doncic participated in Wednesday’s practice, which was a non-contact session. Doncic has been sidelined with the calf injury since Dec. 25 but there’s hope he could return in Saturday afternoon’s home game against the Indiana Pacers.
ESPN announced on Wednesday that it will broadcast Saturday’s game in anticipation of Doncic’s debut.
Doncic was scheduled to play in a 5-on-5 scrimmage involving the team’s “stay-ready” group on Wednesday.
“We’re kind of just assessing it day-by-day,” Redick said. “We hope to have him back within the next few games. He’ll have a stay-ready game at some point. And over the next two days, Thursday, Friday, he’ll have some more opportunities to play live basketball. And then we’ll make a decision on Saturday.
“If it’s not Saturday, hopefully it’s Monday. But again, those decisions [about] Saturday will be made on Saturday.”
The Lakers will also have to decide soon if there are any other changes they want to make to the roster via trade.
Pelinka acknowledged during Doncic’s introductory press conference on Tuesday morning that the team is in need of another big man – a need that existed before trading Anthony Davis, one of the best two-way big men in the league, to the Dallas Mavericks as part of the three-team deal that brought Doncic to L.A.
“We know we have a need for a big,” Pelinka said. “The market for bigs right now leading into the last two or three days of the trade deadline is very dry. There’s just not a lot available. If there’s not a championship big on the market, I can’t wave a wand and create that opportunity.
“We’ll continue to work and look for areas that we can complete and fill out the roster. Maybe we’ll be able to do some stuff around the margins. In terms of a big move for that position, it’s probably more realistic that would be something that comes in the offseason. But Luka will be at the center of that as we build for the long term.”
Jaxson Hayes, who is the Lakers’ lone big man signed to a standard contract, said he’s looking forward to the increased opportunities coming his way while also desiring an addition to the big man rotation.
“I’m very prepared,” said the 7-footer, who is 24. “God’s blessed me with a bunch of talents and a bunch of abilities, and I’m fully ready to take full advantage of it. And blessed me with this opportunity now, with the new team and with all the new guys, and so just ready to take advantage of it.”
He added: “I feel like we’ll be fine. Definitely would love to have another big with me. And then not be the only five right now besides our younger guys. But if a trade happens, I’d love it. It’d only be good for the team. So obviously I’d be happy about that. And still take full advantage of my minutes.”
Redick feels like it’s viable for the Lakers to finish the season with Hayes as the team’s lone big man.
“We’re looking at stuff and we’re going to try to make the team better,” he said. “Have confidence that if it ends up being Jaxson and our two-ways and our small-ball lineup, we can figure it out.”
WARRIORS AT LAKERS
When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/radio: TNT/710 AM