The shock has now settled. But when the Luka Doncic trade took place, most NBA players were dumbfounded. Several questioned whether Shams Charania was even hacked. However, it was all real. One of the brightest young stars of the NBA went to the Lakers, joining forces with LeBron James. To the Purple and Gold, the Slovenian starboy is seen as the future of the franchise. However, what if it helps the Akron Hammer play for longer?
That’s what Paul George believes. The Philadelphia 76ers’ forward was equally stunned by the trade. He felt Doncic was one of the ‘untouchables’ in the league. Yet, the Mavericks and the Lakers reached a historic agreement. And George believes having Doncic run the show allows LeBron James to get a much-needed “break”.
“LeBron doesn’t have to create every possession. He doesn’t have to put the team on his back every possession. He doesn’t have to score every possession or play make every possession. Like the man is 40 years old and he’s still triple doubling. But he, you know, it comes to a point where he needs help. He needs, you know, someone to kind of take that over for him,” George said on Podcast P.
Feb 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
In the absence of Davis, LeBron James has led the Lakers to some remarkable victories. However, sustaining his health remains a priority. And having an engine like Luka Doncic who can do nearly everything on the floor allows the King to get an occasional rest. Furthermore, delegating the heavier duties to him paves the way for James to exhaust himself greater defensively which will help the Purple and Gold tremendously.
At this point in his career, this is exactly the kind of help James needed. The same though can’t be said for Stephen Curry.
Stephen Curry may wish to be in a LeBron James-like situation
For the past few years, the Warriors’ offense has been centered around Stephen Curry. There’s absolutely nothing wrong about it given his attractive talent. However, at 36 years old, he has seen an onset of injuries. For example, Curry is dealing with a knee injury that’s said to be a nagging ailment.
In such moments, having a player such as Luka Doncic would have helped him take a back seat. And there was a time when the Warriors had the potential to build such a dynamic. The answer was Jordan Poole. The young Wizards guard became a pivotal part of the Warriors’ championship run.
His shot creation and three-point shooting led many to believe he could take over the baton from Curry. However, the incident with Draymond Green damaged those dreams. And since his trade, the Warriors have been unable to find a twitchy guard like Poole to take the pressure off Curry.
As a result, the demands on the Baby Face Assassin are that of carrying the offense whenever he is on the floor. Currently, he seems to have reached a saturation point, struggling to shoot the ball with the same fluidity as he would with less pressure. The Jimmy Butler trade does give way for it.
That though depends on how the former Heat forward commits himself to the regular season. Unlike LeBron James, Curry won’t have the luxury of having a player who can mirror his impact. And as time passes, it seems unlikely that Stephen Curry could have someone like Jordan Poole by his side.
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