The Lakers are stacking around Luka Dončić with Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, while weighing Maxi Kleber’s future. Rob Pelinka surveys a trade-deadline window, aiming to add Gabe Vincent and Kleber on expiring deals to boost shooting and defense without destabilizing Dončić’s comfort zone. The plan hinges on a precise balance of upside and chemistry, with a February move likely to define the ceiling of this duo-anchored core.

Vincent alongside Kleber could unlock spacing for Dončić’s playmaking, while Ayton provides rim protection and finishing at the rim. If Pelinka preserves Dončić’s happiness, he may hesitate to move Kleber midseason, but both expiring contracts keep the Lakers active in pursuit of a true rotation upgrade.

Celtics history note: Bailey Howell for Mel Counts in 1964 reshaped Boston’s frontcourt, Counts delivering two title runs and solid per-game hours. Howell, from Mississippi State, provided a foundational Celtics stretch, while Counts posted 6.8 points and 5.8 rebounds across his two seasons. The piece also salutes Jim Seminoff and Ryan Gomes on birthdays linked to Boston’s era-spanning tale, and recaps a pivotal 2020 playoff moment when Smart and Tatum fueled a 102-99 win over Toronto to seize early momentum in the bubble.

Boston opened the 2020 East semifinals with a 112-94 win over Toronto in the NBA bubble, led by 21-point nights from Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart, plus 18 from Kemba Walker with 10 assists. Jaylen Brown contributed 17 and 5, Daniel Theis added 13 and 15 rebounds, and Robert Williams III chipped in 10 and 5 off the bench as the Celtics cruised from start to finish.

The Raptors, defending champions, never locked in and trailed all game, while Boston’s depth and late-game efficiency gave the series a 1-0 edge. The win came amid a pandemic-era playoff landscape at the Wide World of Sports Complex, and also coincided with the birthday of Celtics icon Robert Parish, a reminder of the franchise’s rich history even as the present game unfolded with a new normal.