The trade for Luka Doncic and immediate connection he made with LeBron James has transformed the Lakers into legitimate title contenders.

The Los Angeles Lakers secured the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, earning them a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the postseason. And superstar Luka Dončić believes the team has the goods to make a title run:

Ahead of the NBA trade deadline, one of the most shocking trades of all time occurred. Out of nowhere, Luka Doncic was shipped to the Los Angeles Lakers with Anthony Davis heading back to the Dallas Mavericks.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver can see both sides of the Luka Dončić deal. Shortly after the trade was made, Silver defended the Dallas Mavericks, saying he believes the team did what it believed "was in the best interest of the organization."

NBA commissioner Adam Silver joined ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" on Thursday ahead of the playoffs, which get underway on Saturday. To little surprise, the Luka Dončić trade, which is still commanding headlines months after it was made,

Adam Silver hears you, Dallas Mavericks fans. The NBA commissioner was a guest on Thursday's episode of the Pat McAfee Show and expressed sympathy with Dallas fans for their anger over the Luka Doncic trade.