Zurab Talakvadze

Luka Doncic is waiting

Lakers got their joker. Luka Doncic has landed in California, where the pressure will be immense. The golden-purple machine needed the best contributor for the King and Lakers got their own Avenger.

Who is still limping.

Doncic is learning on how to cooperate with Lebron James. Those two are going to have their own moments of magic but the impact is not imminent. Luka is off to a slow start.

He is averaging about 15 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Some modest stats for a guy, who was torturing his opposition with 28.1 points, 8.3 boards and 7.8 dimes while in Dallas. All in the ongoing season. The learning and healing process will take some time. Lebron knows.

And, Luka is not shooting a ball well, either. He is 5 of 24 on his long range shots. He has missed some free throws. He is rushing things up (4 turnovers per game) and do not has that Luka magica with him.

And, lets not forget, that Luka is ineligible to sign a five-year, 345 $ million contract supermax extension. The reason? He was traded! All is left for Doncic, is a four-year, 229 $ million extension with his new team, but that does not come until August 2.

There is another option for the Slovenian King. He can sign a three-year, 165 $ million contract with Lakers and with that needed player option at a hand. That gives him an option to sign a Lebronian contract after the 2027/28 with 418 $ million on a five-year deal. Well, that gives Lakers front office a hefty head scratch to provide Luka with some needed talent in the coming years.

Lakers are off to a slow start with Lebron and Doncic. Lakers have some 70 million coming off the hooks and some rights to swap the first-rounders as well.

But they do need their new megaduo to start clicking fast.

Lebron needs that.

And, so does Luka.