The Los Angeles Lakers have had quite the offseason balancing the needs of Luka Don\u010di\u0107 and LeBron James, but for the most part, it seems like they\u2019ve succeeded. The Lakers are trying to have the best of both worlds \u2014 building around Don\u010di\u0107 while also catering to James\u2019 desire to win now.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeBron wants to compete for a championship,\u201d Rich Paul told ESPN.<\/a> \u201cHe knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.\u201d<\/p>\n Even though the Lakers want to build around Don\u010di\u0107, and that may take time, the superstar himself wants to win immediately.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u010di\u0107 being just 26 gives the Lakers a far longer timeline to build a championship-contending team, but that doesn’t mean they can slow down and take their time. Don\u010di\u0107 told Lakers president Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick in May that he’s not interested in taking the slow approach in building a contender,\u201d CBS Sports\u2019 Jasmyn Wimbish wrote.<\/a><\/p>\n A recent trade proposal could satisfy both James and Don\u010di\u0107.<\/p>\n Lakers get:<\/p>\n Andrew Wiggins (from Heat)Jaime Jaquez Jr. (from Heat)Drew Timme (from Nets)<\/p>\n Heat get:<\/p>\n Rui Hachimura (from Lakers)Dalton Knecht (from Lakers)$10 million trade exception (Wiggins)<\/p>\n Nets get:<\/p>\n Maxi Kleber (from Lakers)2026 protected Brooklyn second-rounder (from Heat)$4.6 million (from Nets)$2 million (from Lakers)<\/p>\n \u201cUsing Stein’s logic that the Lakers are willing to take on a longer salary, Wiggins only has one year left after this coming season. If he fits well, he could opt out and re-sign on a lower but longer annual deal. Or Los Angeles could use his expiring contract in a future deal. From a basketball perspective, the 30-year-old would step in as the team’s best perimeter defender. At 6’7″, he’d fill the role left by the departure of Dorian Finney-Smith,\u201d Bleacher Report\u2019s Eric Pincus wrote.<\/a><\/p>\n