Luka Doncic's offseason request might come at a steep price for the Lakers

With LeBron James set to hit free agency and Austin Reaves also potentially fielding offers, the Los Angeles Lakers must build around Luka Doncic.

Even if one of them -- or both -- return, Doncic is the future of the organization, and general manager Rob Pelinka has to surround him with his preferred type of players.

Doncic has already let the team know that he wants a rim-running big man like the ones he had in Dallas.

With that in mind, Lakers insider Jovan Buha believes they could make a run at Mavericks big man Dereck Lively II, though he won't be cheap to get.

The Lakers could consider a trade for Dereck Lively II

“There’s just certain guys that you’re not giving up, almost regardless of what the price, the ask is,” Buha said. “Lively is not on that tier or that level, so I would say he is gettable.”

Lively isn't Cooper Flagg, so the Mavs might be comfortable moving him at a price. Of course, that doesn't mean they will just give him up without a fight. Per Buha, the asking price might still be a bit too high.

“So to be giving up a piece of their core, and a guy who has been someone that the fanbase has really enjoyed, I think you are probably starting with two firsts, and that could be the 25 pick and a future first,” Buha said.

Lively is still on his rookie deal, so the Lakers would be getting a long-term rim-running/rim-protecting athletic freak who's already more than familiar with Doncic's pick-and-roll expertise.

Together, they led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals for the first time in the post-Dirk Nowitzki era.

And as much as he's struggled with injuries recently, Lively is tailor-made to play next to Doncic, so that might be a risk worth taking.