Simply put, the Portland Trail Blazers allowed Thursday’s NBA trade deadline to come and go without making a deal because general manager Joe Cronin did not identify any trade scenarios he believed would help the team’s long-term plans.

The Lakers’ acquisition of Luka Doncic was the biggest move of the week, even if plenty of other teams were also able to improve.

But the big trade for this season — you know the one I’m talking about — was a signal that the Lakers, and the NBA, are preparing and beginning to move on from him. Just not in the way you might think.