The Lakers are heading into the final stretch of the season in a much better spot than in past years. But let’s be real—things look completely different now. Swapping out Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic before the trade deadline didn’t just tweak the roster—it changed everything. A dominant big man out, a superstar guard in? That’s a whole new game plan.

The Lakers haven’t let Doncic go full throttle just yet. He’s played both games against Utah, but with a minutes restriction in place, they’re easing him back into rhythm. Across those two matchups, he’s clocked just 47 minutes total, averaging 23.5 per game. Even with limited time on the floor, Dončić still made an impact—dropping 30 points, snagging nine rebounds, and handing out eight assists. Looks like he’s getting back in the groove, just not at full speed yet.

The Lakers, for their part, are keeping the 5x All-Star on a minutes restriction for at least one more game, said JJ Redick as they face the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday. But there’s some good news as well. There’s a chance he could be back to full minutes as early as Thursday when the Lakers take on the Trail Blazers reports Mike Trudell.

But that’s not the only good news. The Purple & Gold are finally getting some reinforcements.

Luka isn’t the only starter back in action—Gabe Vincent is also cleared to play after dealing with his injury. Jaxson Hayes, who took a hit and left early in L.A.’s loss to the Jazz, will also suit up against Charlotte. That’s big for the Lakers, considering they could use his size in the paint. Meanwhile, Dorian Finney-Smith is finally returning as well. He sat out against Utah.

JJ Redick has been vocal about how the Lakers have spent months fine-tuning their offense, especially after shaking up the roster. Keeping things simple has been the goal, and with their latest additions, that focus has only sharpened.

But let’s be real—when you have Luka, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves running the show, scoring should never be an issue. Let’s see what the Slovenian and the ‘King’ have to say about this.

Luka Doncic is okay with Mark Williams not landing in Hollywood, wants to focus on what they have

Luka Doncic isn’t sweating the Lakers’ failed trade of Mark Williams. He’s more focused on making things work with the squad they’ve got. “At the end of the day, this is our team,” Doncic said. “This is the team we have, and we’re going to show we can do everything.”

Marc Stein stated that Doncic remains unfazed by the Lakers missing out on Williams. He knew finding the right center might take until summer, but he liked how fast the front office moved to improve the roster.

Since returning from a calf strain, Doncic has only played twice, both against Utah, and as noted above, he’s still on a minutes restriction.

LeBron James knows the adjustment period is real but sees big things ahead. “We only had two games so far, and I believe he’s been on a minutes restriction since he came back from the calf,” James said. “As he continues to get in form, I think we could be really good going down the stretch. But we’ll see what happens.”

Then there’s the LeBron factor. Both players thrive with the ball in their hands, and with James nearing 40, the Lakers clearly view Doncic as the future.

Luka’s contract will be a major talking point, though. He signed through the 2025-26 season, and analysts expect him to decline his $48.9 million option for 2026-27. Instead of chasing the $345 million supermax he could have earned in Dallas, he might opt for a shorter extension before cashing in later.

For now, the Lakers are rolling with what they’ve got, and Doncic seems all in.