Vince Carter Weighs in on Luka Doncic Trade, Says It’s 'Perfect Timing' for Lakers

The Luka Doncic trade may have gone down over two weeks ago, but it’s still one of the biggest talking points in the NBA. Nearly everyone in the basketball world has chimed in on the deal, and now Vince Carter—one of the most electrifying players in league history—has added his take.

Carter, an eight-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA selection, and one of the greatest dunkers of all time, spent 22 seasons in the NBA, playing for teams like the Raptors, Nets, and Hawks before becoming a respected analyst. Now a Basketball Hall of Famer, Carter sees Doncic’s arrival in L.A. as a game-changer for LeBron James:

"It's perfect timing, I think, for this to happen because what we've said over the past couple of years is, will LeBron allow AD to be AD? The alpha dog 1, the go-to guy. So he's in a place where he has now allowed that, and look at Anthony Davis... Luka can actually make LeBron better because of his ability… Now, next level, allowing LeBron to be himself, but he doesn't have to be that go-to guy now."

The early returns have been mixed. Since Doncic joined the Lakers, they’ve split their first two games (1-1). The 25-year-old star is still adjusting, averaging 15.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists on 40.7% shooting from the field and 26.7% from three in that span—numbers well below his usual production.