THE LUKA DONCIC PROBLEM: WHY TRUSTING TEAMMATES IS THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE L.A.
JJ Redick addresses how contract anxiety affects the Lakers' ball movement and calls on Luka Doncic to trust his teammates more.
Like a lot of guys across the league, the Lakers’ free agents have their eyes on the future, trying to lock down their next deal—whether that’s in L.A. or somewhere else. The quickest way to stay in the league? More minutes, more shots, better stats. That’s what gets you paid.
JJ Redick gets it. He spent 15 years in the NBA, four of them with the Clippers, and he’s been in these shoes. “I’ve been there,” he said. “There’s a human side to this. Guys worry about what’s next, especially when you’ve got a roster full of free agents and player options. Of course, they’re thinking about offence. It gets in your head—‘I’ve been out there for five minutes and haven’t even touched the ball.’ That’s just how it is. No one’s to blame.”
The numbers tell the story: five Lakers are in the final year of their contracts, and three more have options for the 2026-27 season. That’s eight guys who could hit free agency this offseason.
LeBron James, Gabe Vincent, Jaxson Hayes, Rui Hachimura, and Maxi Kleber are all in their contract years. Austin Reaves has a player option for next season, but word is he’s waiting to test the market before he decides. The Lakers could put five years and $241 million on the table for him. Marcus Smart, 31, and DeAndre Ayton also have player options.
With so many guys thinking about their next move, it’s no surprise trust can get shaky on the court—especially when it comes to sharing the ball. Redick didn’t call anyone out; he just said it’s a general thing. But he did say getting everyone involved starts with Luka Doncic, their main ball handler.
During Thursday’s 112-104 loss to the Clippers, Doncic put up 27 of the team’s 88 shots (he made 11) and took 13 of their 33 three-point attempts (he hit three).
“He’s going to have the ball more than anyone,” Redick said. “But he’s got to trust his teammates. If two defenders come at him, if he’s surrounded, he’s got to move the ball. We talk a lot about being connected on defence, but you’ve got to be just as connected on offence.”
Doncic knows he’s supposed to get guys involved, but he pointed to their 24 assists on 40 field goals against the Clippers and said, “Not bad.”
“Could be better, obviously. But the ball was moving in the second half; that’s how we got back in it,” Doncic said, talking about the run where the Lakers cut a 26-point lead all the way down to two in the fourth quarter. “JJ said at halftime, the ball needs to move more. That’s what we did.”
LeBron, who handles the ball plenty himself, took 19 shots against the Clippers and made nine. Hachimura went 5 for 11 (2 for 7 from deep), and Smart shot 4 for 10 (1 for 5 from three).
As for his own future, LeBron said he isn’t stressing, even with the trade rumours swirling. After the game, he sounded at ease about sticking with the Lakers. “I’m good. I’m good,” he said.
NFL EXECUTIVE NAMES COLE PAYTON HIS "NO. 2 QUARTERBACK" IN THE 2026 CLASS
From 94.6 PFF grades to 4.56 speed, Cole Payton is the Eagles' latest QB project. Analysing his path to the NFL depth chart.
Cole Payton, who played quarterback at North Dakota State, might end up making a bigger splash as a fifth-round pick than people expect.
He’s not just another late-round flyer, either. An NFL executive recently told insider J.L. Canfora that Payton has real upside. The Eagles have done something similar before, so this isn't coming out of nowhere.
Remember Carson Wentz? Philly grabbed him with the second overall pick back in 2016, but Jalen Hurts ended up taking over. Now, some people around the league think history might repeat itself with Payton possibly replacing Hurts down the road.
The executive went all in on Payton: “You know, I believe in that kid. That was my No. 2 quarterback in the draft. And Howie [Roseman] takes him? Come on. He sees it too. Cole Payton, if you bring him along the right way, can start in this league.”
Roseman, the guy in Philly’s front office, was a big part of the Wentz pick. He’s seen his fair share of quarterback changes over the years, and honestly, that might matter this time, too.
The executive didn’t hold back: “All the stuff you hear about Hurts, all the drama and where he is in his contract." You can call me crazy, but I think this kid could take over from him in a few years. They did this with [Kevin] Kolb, even when [Donovan] McNabb was still there. I know how Howie thinks. This kid has a chance.”
Payton had to wait for his turn at NDSU.
Payton rolled into North Dakota State in 2021, known as a strong recruit for an FCS quarterback, straight out of Omaha.
He was supposed to be the next big thing, just like the string of successful Bison quarterbacks before him. But things didn’t break that way at first. Cam Miller, the QB ahead of him, kept stacking up wins and making a name for himself in Fargo.
Miller even beat out Quincy Patterson II, a gifted dual-threat quarterback who transferred in from Virginia Tech. After Patterson got banged up in 2021, Miller took over, steered the team to a national championship, and then hung on to the starting job through 2024.
Patterson left for Temple, so Payton slid into the Bison’s running packages in a spot that Patterson had filled before. And Payton did more than just fill that role. In 2022, he ran for 284 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries. By the next year, he really took off: 615 yards and 13 touchdowns on 84 carries.
Setback, then a breakout
Payton started 2024 looking like the same kind of threat on the ground, but a shoulder injury cut his season short. He only managed 164 rushing yards and a score on 21 carries before he went down.
Finally, in 2025, his shot as the full-time starter arrived after Miller left for the NFL draft, drafted by the Raiders in the sixth round. Payton made the most of it. He led NDSU to an unbeaten 12-0 regular season, completing 70% of his passes for 2,719 yards, with 16 touchdowns and just four picks. And he still ran wild, with 777 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 136 carries.
Now, he’s got a fresh chance in Philadelphia. If you ask people around the league, he’s not just there to hold a clipboard. They're watching to see what happens next.
DAVE ROBERTS COMPARES LEFTY JUSTIN WROBLESKI TO CLAYTON KERSHAW AFTER METS GEM
Discover how Justin Wrobleski transitioned from the bullpen to becoming the Dodgers' statistical leader in a historic 2026 run.
Dave Roberts gets it; he isn’t surprised Logan Webb might’ve hit Daulton Rushing with a pitch.
But there's something else on his mind: Justin Wrobleski. The Dodgers have a fresh-faced lefty in the rotation, and Wrobleski isn’t just holding his own; he’s shining. Roberts can’t help but see shades of Clayton Kershaw in him, and he’s letting people know it.
Wrobleski’s just 25, fresh out of Oklahoma State, but don’t let the age fool you. He’s pitched 36 innings as a starter with a 1.25 ERA, the best mark in the National League. People are starting to talk. Roberts definitely is. The Kershaw comparisons are already swirling, and they don’t sound that far-fetched if you watch Wrobleski work.
On Monday, he diced up the Mets by going right after hitters, pitch after pitch. Roberts has been around long enough to recognise the approach. “He’s got a great mentor in Clayton,” Roberts said, “and sometimes, it really feels like he channels Kershaw’s mentality. Attack guys, force them to put the ball in play.”
Just look at what he did to the Cardinals on Sunday. Six scoreless innings, only one walk, six hits – nothing fancy, just solid pitching. That’s two starts in a row; he’s thrown up six scoreless frames. Last year, Wrobleski mostly worked out of the bullpen. But with Blake Snell hurt and Emmet Sheehan shaky, Roberts gave him a shot, and Wrobleski ran with it. In 2025, he struck out 76 over 66 innings but had a 4.32 ERA. He got swings and misses back then, but in 2026, the punchouts dropped. Just 15 in 36 innings. Still, his control and poise jumped another level.
Roberts sees it up close. Sometimes he even jokes about the similarities. “He wears Skechers like Clayton does,” Roberts grinned. “He does his side work in his full jersey, just like Kershaw.”
Reporters asked Wrobleski about admiring a legend like Kershaw now that he’s part of the Dodgers mix. His answer’s honest: “Just watching him every day was something special for me,” Wrobleski said. “Not everyone gets to be around guys who are legends of the game.”
So yeah, it’s early. Comparisons can sound wild. But as long as Wrobleski keeps pitching this way, the talk isn’t stopping anytime soon.
_1777814568.webp)
