The Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks are less than a month removed from the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade, and it’s still one of the most talked about events in the NBA.
This deal was one of the biggest in league history when looking at the star power involved, causing a ripple effect across the NBA.
Many believe this instantly made the Lakers better, as Luka Doncic has been one of the best players in the league for several years.
Others aren’t so sure, however, including Charles Barkley, who gave his reasoning on the NBA on TNT.
“I don’t think [the Lakers] are a contender,” Barkley said, adding that Doncic is an “upgrade,” but doesn’t add enough of a boost for the Lakers to be effective in the Western Conference.
“I don’t think [the Lakers] are a contender. ” 👀
Chuck thinks Luka is an “upgrade”, but still not enough for LA to be considered a threat in the West. pic.twitter.com/8Ro4cSTp5h
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 28, 2025
The West has been weaker than the East for a few years, as it’s been less-top heavy, but that doesn’t appear to be the case this year.
Several teams in the West have emerged as potential contenders, including the Oklahoma City Thunder, who have been nothing short of dominant.
The Lakers do have James and Doncic, which has the makings of a dynamic duo, but Barkley isn’t convinced that they have what it takes to win it all.
There’s a reason why All-Star teams fail more often than they succeed, and Barkley could be worried about the Lakers not having an identity with these two juggernauts on the same roster.
Only time will tell how this situation will shake out, and how well the Lakers will play down the stretch.
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