Los Angeles responded to LeBron James’ exit by building around Luka Doncic, leaving Dallas with a clearer reminder to focus on Cooper Flagg instead of a future reunion.
Every few weeks on Mavericks Twitter, the conversation surfaces again. Project 2028. The idea is simple.
Luka Doncic’s contract expires after the 2027-28 season. Dallas builds a contender around Cooper Flagg by then. Doncic sees a winning situation and chooses to come home.
The fan base held onto this idea even as the trade went through, even as Nico Harrison and most of the front office was fired and the coaching staff that facilitated the deal was cleared out.
The thinking was that a clean slate made the reunion more plausible, not less.
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Tuesday made that harder to believe.
The day after LeBron James announced he was leaving Los Angeles, the Lakers reshaped their roster around Doncic.
The moves came fast: Walker Kessler arrived from Utah in a sign-and-trade worth four years and $130 million. Los Angeles sent unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033 and first-round swaps in 2028 and 2030 to get it done. The 24-year-old, 7-foot center gives Doncic the rim-running lob threat his offensive game has always needed.
Quentin Grimes signed a four-year, $60 million deal to add perimeter defense and shooting. Collin Sexton agreed to a two-year, $19 million contract after averaging 15.4 points on 40.1% shooting from 3-point range last season. Sandro Mamukelashvili signed a four-year, $52 million fully guaranteed deal after a career-best 11.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game in Toronto.
Four significant additions in one afternoon, all built around making Doncic better. Los Angeles is not in transition. The franchise used James’ departure to restock around its new cornerstone rather than pause and evaluate.
Project 2028 was always built on the assumption that Doncic would grow unhappy in Los Angeles, find the situation lacking and look elsewhere. The Lakers are removing reasons for that to happen. They traded the picks it took to get him. They signed Austin Reaves to a massive extension. Now they have surrounded him with shooters, defenders and a rim protector.
Los Angeles is telling Doncic clearly that it is building this team around him for years.
Dallas should be doing the same with Cooper Flagg. The front office has one job this summer and it has nothing to do with Doncic.
