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The Lakers have a hole at forward. Most people think that hole is at power forward, more specifically. And no question, it would be great to fill it with a high end, versatile defender who also comes with a good skill set offensively. Scottie Barnes or OG Anunoby, or a top shelf defender/ball mover like prime Draymond.
But of course, those guys are really, really hard to find.
And as the offseason moves along, it's more likely the Lakers will hold off on filling that spot until the season is underway, or the deadline, or even next offseason. So in the meantime, what do they do with what they have? Well, one thing to consider is the role of Luka Doncic. He is a force offensively who can make a lot of disparate parts work well together, as long as everyone understands his role. But he's obviously not a traditional point guard, because he's so flippin' large. So when people talk about that last starting spot, are they really just talking about defense?
How does Luka fit in?
Is what they need not so much a power forward, per se, but a versatile wing who can take on multiple matchups and allow the Lakers to slot players like Luka and Austin Reaves in more suitable ways?
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: Is Luka part of the solution?
SEGMENT 2: What do the Lakers need at PF?
SEGMENT 3: How versatility on D is much more important than skill on O.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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"Is Luka Dončić Part of the Solution for the Lakers' Problem at Power Forward?" is an episode of Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers. Runtime 35 min. Published August 5, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.