LeBron James played a pivotal role in attracting top-tier talent to the franchise throughout these years. However, since the blockbuster acquisition of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks, a shift in leadership has taken place.

Luka Doncic has now taken that role, and he is already utilizing some of those nuances with the latest Los Angeles Lakers transaction. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, before Marcus Smart agreed to a buyout with the Washington Wizards,