Lakers Pursued Wing Sharpshooter, Luka Closed Better Deal

Before luckily landing on Marcus Smart, the Los Angeles Lakers explored trading for a veteran 3-and-D wing to compensate for Dorian Finney-Smith‘s loss.

Aside from expressing interest in a reunion with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Lakers also tried to poke around a feisty 38% 3-point shooter, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

“Los Angeles also reached out to the Minnesota Timberwolves about Donte DiVincenzo‘s availability, but the Wolves were not interested at all, sources said,” Siegel wrote on July 21.

Gabe Vincent‘s $11.5 million salary easily matches up with DiVincenzo. But even if the Timberwolves do not have a capable backup point guard behind the 37-year-old Mike Conley, DiVincenzo has become indispensable after Nickeil Walker-Alexander bolted out of Minnesota to land a lucrative free agent deal in Atlanta.

Why the Lakers Were Interested in Donte DiVincenzo

Getty Donte DiVincenzo of the Minnesota Timberwolves shoots the ball against Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers. 

 

It would have taken more than just Vincent to pry away DiVincenzo. The Lakers have been reluctant to offer their lone first-round pick (2031 or 2032) unless it is for a star.

The 28-year-old DiVincenzo averaged 11.7 points, 3.6 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 39.7% from the 3-point line last season for the Timberwolves. He is expected to take on a much bigger role without Walker-Alexander.

Before he was traded to the Timberwolves, the 6-foot-4 Italian-American guard had his best year in the NBA with the New York Knicks during the 2023-24 season, averaging a career-best 15.5 points on 40.1% 3-point shooting.

DiVincenzo has become a solid off-ball defender, filling in the gaps while hitting consistently from the perimeter.

While the Timberwolves quickly rejected the Lakers’ inquiry, they have included DiVincenzo in the Rudy Gobert-led package for Kevin Durant that did not materialize, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

Luka Makes Strong Commitment to Lakers

Fortunately for the Lakers, Smart landed on their lap. But with a big assist from their new franchise star Luka Doncic.

Windhorst added that Doncic called Smart a “couple of times” that swayed the former Boston Celtic to join the Lakers.

“Regardless of whether Marcus Smart works out, regardless of what the context was, I think the key here is that Luka is acting in concert with the Lakers front office,” Windhorst said on the “Hoop Collective” podcast. “… Luka got the message from the Lakers and followed up on it, apparently several times.”

The Lakers beat the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks in a close race to land Smart, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. So, for the Lakers to have Doncic as their chief recruiter is an indication of their strong relationship, which bodes well for the franchise as the Slovenian star is eligible to sign a lucrative long-term extension beginning on Aug. 2.

“And that is not Luka’s natural state,” said Tim McMahon, Windhorst’s co-host and ESPN reporter covering the Dallas Mavericks, where Doncic played his entire career until February. “The first several years of his career, he basically said, ‘Hey, I play. The front office puts the team together. I don’t want anything to do with it.’ And he didn’t grow up in the AAU culture where you’re constantly recruiting guys.”

Smart is the second player the Lakers signed from the buyout market after center Deandre Ayton, who was also recruited by Doncic.