[McMenamin] Luka Doncic is spending the summer in Slovenia with his daughters, Gabriela and Olivia, but sources close to him told ESPN he is in “constant communication” with Lakers. “Luka’s first and foremost desire is an A-list center,” the source said.
Doncic is spending the summer in Slovenia with his daughters, Gabriela and Olivia, but sources close to him told ESPN he is in “constant communication” with Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick.
Coming off a season in which he led the league in scoring at 33.5 points per game and finished fourth in MVP voting before a Grade 2 left hamstring strain sidelined him for L.A.’s postseason run, Doncic is finally healthy as he begins his offseason training.
He was cleared for basketball activities on May 28 – about 2½ weeks after their series against the Thunder finished, sources close to Doncic told ESPN.
“He’s in full go mode,” one source said.
While the 27-year-old Doncic is preparing for another season squarely in his prime, he has made one roster preference clear to Pelinka and Redick, sources said.
It’s the same one he made in the days after he first arrived in Los Angeles 16 months ago.
“Luka’s first and foremost desire is an A-list center,” the source said.
A rim-running, lob-catching big man opens so much for Doncic’s already potent offensive game, and someone who can defend at the position too is necessary to contend with the best teams in either conference.