All eyes will be on LeBron James this summer, and rightfully so.
The accomplished 6-foot-9 forward is 40 years old and could be content with retiring after a decorated 22-year NBA career, negatively affecting the Lakers.
However, Luka Doncic, an ex-Dallas Mavericks phenom who joined Los Angeles on Feb. 2, should also receive attention during the upcoming free agency period.
According to The Athletic’s Jovan Buva and Sam Amick, the five-time All-Star guard could make an encouraging decision in the future to excite the Lakers and their fan base after a failed postseason.
“The Lakers did the deal without any assurances that Doncic, who has a player option worth $48.9 million for the 2026-27 season and is extension eligible on Aug. 2, would re-sign,” Buha and Amick wrote Friday.
“That fact might seem like a technicality to some, as Doncic is widely expected to commit to a long-term Lakers future at some point."
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"Depending on Doncic’s preference, he has multiple pathways to his next contract. Beginning on Aug. 2, he can sign a four-year, $229 million extension.”
“To recoup the money he lost in the trade from losing his supermax eligibility, Doncic could sign a shorter three-year, $165 million extension, with a player option for 2028-29 that would coincide with reaching 10 years of service to be eligible for the 35% max.”
“In that scenario, he could sign a five-year, $418 million deal in the 2028 offseason.”
After the Lakers completed a blockbuster trade for Doncic in early February, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that there would be pressure on Los Angeles to persuade the 26-year-old pro to sign an extension with the franchise in the summer.
Although Doncic enjoyed playing with the Lakers during the second half of the year, he recently stated that he hasn’t considered inking a long-term deal with the organization.
“I didn’t think about it yet,” Doncic said after the Lakers’ Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. “I’ve been focused on basketball. So, obviously, this is the time now to think about everything.”
However, the Athletic’s recent report suggests the 2023-24 scoring champion will soon commit to Los Angeles full-time and show he’s interested in continuing his development in a Lakers uniform.
Doncic and the Lakers’ offseason will be compelling, to say the least.
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