TRADING NEWS: INCREDIBLE Luka Doncic has finally announced his retirement from basketball 🏀 due to his injury from

The Los Angeles Lakers’ efforts to sign a center that fits Luka Doncic’s preferences stalled when a trade from the Charlotte Hornets for Mark Williams was rescinded due to a failed fitness test. Although the trade didn’t work out, Doncic understands the circumstances and is taking a patient approach. “At the end of the day, this is our team,” Doncic said after the trade was rescinded. “This is the team we have, and we’re going to show that we can do anything.” NBA reporter Marc Stein reported that Doncic expressed “no tangible disappointment” from his camp after the deal for Williams fell through. Doncic was always aware that signing the right center could take until the summer, but he’s still impressed with how quickly Los Angeles has tried to fill that need. Since his surprise trade from the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic has played just two games with the Lakers, resulting in a split series against the Utah Jazz. Relegated to limited play after a left calf injury, Doncic averaged 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 23.5 minutes per game as a Laker. “I think we can go very far,” Doncic said after the Lakers’ recent loss to the Utah Jazz. “Today, obviously, I felt a little rusty, two games after my injury – turnovers, missed free throws – so I need to get a lot better. But now the break is upon us, so we need to rest.” The dynamic between Doncic and LeBron James remains a flashpoint for speculation, especially given both players’ tendency to lead their team’s offense. With James approaching 40, the Lakers’ strategy in the years to come will revolve around Doncic. “I’m excited to see what we can do. We’ve only had two games so far and I think he’s been restricted from playing time since he returned from the calf injury,” James said before the NBA All-Star Game. “I don’t think he has played since Christmas. As he continues to get in shape, I think we could be really good down the stretch. But we’ll see what happens.” Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Doncic, 25, has a contract through the 2025-26 season and a $48.9 million player option for 2026-27, which he is expected to decline. The Lakers want to tie Doncic down with a long-term extension and move away from the $345 million supermax contract that would have been possible had he stayed with the Mavericks. Doncic could opt for a shorter extension, such as a two-plus-one deal worth $165.3 million, potentially laying the groundwork for a subsequent five-year, $418 million deal. Since Doncic joined the Lakers, the franchise has committed to reshaping the roster to improve his style of play. The team will have to explore options this summer. In the meantime, despite the recent transfer woes, Doncic seems to understand how much time it can take to fully optimize the team’s roster after such a significant transfer. Copyright 2025 The A

Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/sports/article300491324.html#storylink=cpy