Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison cited Doncic’s conditioning and defensive effort as key reasons behind the move, with the Lakers giving up a surprisingly modest haul for the Mavericks’ former franchise cornerstone.

Veteran point guard Marcus Smart "has been working hard on his body this summer," according to NBA insider Marc Stein.

Keeping that in mind, a new update has given Los Angeles a lot of reason for optimism regarding being able to keep Doncic in town for years to come. As noted by ESPN insider Tim McMahon, Doncic's involvement in the Lakers' recent moves shows much more than just a will to win this season.