$195 Million Forward Tabbed As Lakers Ideal Long-Term Luka Doncic Partner
Sooner or later, the Los Angeles Lakers will need to seek out a long-term partner for Luka Doncic. LeBron James won’t be around forever, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, he may or may not be with the team in 2026-27.
Replacing James is virtually impossible. He’s one of the best players to ever lace them up. However, that doesn’t mean the Lakers can’t seek out a star-level talent to partner with Doncic. In a recent article for Bleacher Report, Greg Swartz pinpointed Lauri Markkanen as a potentially ideal trade target for Los Angeles.
“Lauri Markkanen may tie up the future cap sheets, but he’s an ideal starting forward to pair next to Dončić, and at age 28, is in the prime of his career,” Swartz wrote. “The 7-footer can knock down threes, put the ball on the floor and isn’t afraid to dunk over opponents in traffic. With or without James in the lineup, Markkanen would be a huge add for a Lakers team that needs to keep pace with squads like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets in the West.”
Markkanen is battle-tested in the Western Conference. He’s a star talent for the Utah Jazz, but would likely be available at the right price. Los Angeles wouldn’t be the first big-name team to check Danny Ainge’s willingness to enter trade negotiations, either. The Golden State Warriors were linked with Markkanen during the summer of 2024.
LeBron James Expected To Return In November
The Lakers have been without LeBron James to begin the new season. He missed all of the team’s preseason preparations, too, as he’s been dealing with sciatica. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers will likely get their veteran star back at some point in mid-November. That is, of course, assuming his recovery doesn’t suffer any setbacks.
“I’m told that we’re still in the range of about three more weeks before he would be targeting a return sometime in mid-November,” McMenamin said. “Now, I have been told by multiple sources
With no preseason behind him, LeBron will likely need some time to ramp up before being at his best. However, his absence has given the Lakers a taste of what their future with Doncic leading the way will look like.
Markkanen Could Fit Lakers Plans
Markkanen would likely be an ideal pick-and-roll partner for Doncic. Both players would have significant scoring gravity, and their skill sets should coexist perfectly. Markkanen would also offer some additional rim-protection.
Furthermore, pairing Markkanen with a true rim-protector would allow the Lakers to go big without compromising the level of skill and scoring talent on the court.
If the Lakers are seeking a future-proof star who fits next to Doncic, Markkanen makes total sense. The hard part will be prying him away from Utah. Ainge is a tough negotiator. He will certainly want to maximize Utah’s return, especially as the move would strengthen a conference rival.
The Detroit Lions Just Got a Reason to Like Tom Brady
The Detroit Lions are 5-2 heading into their bye week, and now, they even have a reason to like former NFL quarterback Tom Brady.
The Detroit Lions are NFL darlings this season, and they actually have been the past few seasons. The team is 5-2 after taking down one of the most promising teams in the NFL this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a 24-9 final score, and now, people are talking about the team, from NFL experts and analysts to moms and dads at the dinner table.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs was extra special during the game, clocking 218 yards and two rushing touchdowns, according to ESPN. The Detroit Lions are now 13-4 following a loss since the start of the 2022 season, which is the second-best record in NFL over that timespan after the Kansas City Chiefs (11-2), according to ESPN Research.
“Gibbs broke free up the middle for the longest run of his NFL career with a 78-yard touchdown with 5:51 left in the first half,” Eric Woodyard of ESPN adds. “Gibbs’ top speed was 22.2 mph, the fastest rushing TD by an offensive ball carrier this season, per Next Gen Stats. He is the only player over the past three seasons to reach 22 mph on a rushing touchdown, and he has done it twice now, including on a 70-yard touchdown versus the Titans in 2024.”
Even Tom Brady is Noticing the Detroit Lions
So, the Lions are on fire, and even legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady is taking notice. Brady released his Fox Sports power rankings on Wednesday, October 22, and he has the Lions at No. 1.
“Make it three straight weeks that the No. 1 team in Tom Brady’s power rankings has gone down,” the article notes, since Brady has the Bucs at No. 1 last week. “After getting anointed as the No. 1 team last week, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost decisively to the Detroit Lions in Week 7. The result was just one of many that’s brought some chaos to the top as we continue to figure out who the contenders in the league are nearly halfway through the season.”
The article adds, “Even the GOAT needed some help to round out his latest top 10, so much so that he called upon a coin to help him pick his 10th team.”
The Detroit Lions Are No. 1
He didn’t need a coin to pick his first favorite team, though. That team is the Lions. Brady also talks up the Detroit Lions’ stars, from Gibbs to quarterback Jared Goff.
“The Lions are No. 1 after dominating last week’s leader [the Buccaneers],” he states in the piece. “The stars were out with the contributions from Amon-Ra St. Brown, [Jahmyr] Gibbs and [Jared] Goff. I can’t wait to hear that crowd on Thanksgiving.”
The NFL’s official website agrees, too. They have the Lions at No. 1, with lead draft writer Eric Edholm stating, “Detroit’s undermanned secondary stepped up in a massive way in Monday’s statement victory over Tampa Bay. The home team entered the night alarmingly shorthanded in the defensive backfield, and then Rock Ya-Sin had to miss some snaps with cramps.”
The Detroit Lions may have fallen to the Chiefs this season, but that was a rarity. They’re obviously ready to stake their claim as the kings of the NFC North.
