Luka Doncic will ultimately be eligible to signal a five-year, $406 million extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, though he has causes to cross it up.
When the Los Angeles Lakers swung their blockbuster commerce for Luka Doncic final season, they did so with the hopes that he might take over because the face of the franchise as LeBron James wraps up his illustrious profession.
Doncic solely has two seasons left on his contract, with a participant choice in 2026-27, and whereas he hasn’t given any indication that he desires to go away Los Angeles, he hasn’t actually implied that he desires to remain.
Between James, Austin Reaves, and Deandre Ayton, the Lakers constructed a stable roster round him and may be capable of lure high-level free brokers as soon as James retires. After subsequent season, Doncic might signal a fair greater extension with LA, though he has loads of causes to signal this summer time, as an alternative.
If Doncic waits till subsequent summer time to signal a three-year, $161 million extension, he might make an eye-popping $406 million, beginning in 2029.
This summer time, he can signal a five-year extension price $228 million, retaining him underneath contract via 2031.
By the point his $228 million deal is up, he shall be 32 years outdated and will signal a fair greater deal than the $406 million blockbuster, though that’s not assured primarily based on well being, the wage cap, and different components.
Nonetheless, one might argue that Doncic ought to take the extension this yr as an alternative of ready merely to indicate the Lakers’ new possession group that he’s on board.
“There’s something to be stated for signaling to the brand new possession group that I wish to be your accomplice,” ESPN’ Brian Windhorst argued.
“And there are worse manufacturers to decide to and worse possession teams to decide to than the Lakers and Mark Walter.
“So what Luka might do, despite the fact that there might not be a monetary profit for him connecting proper now, there’s something to be stated for saying to the brand new possession, ‘Let’s get into enterprise collectively and let’s start the method of doing this collectively.’”
If Luka had been to increase himself via 2031 this summer time, the Lakers would be capable of know precisely how a lot they owe who, and through 2027’s loaded free company, Los Angeles would be capable of goal gamers like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, and Trae Younger, who will all be free brokers by then.
With James nearing the top of his profession and his huge wage coming off the books on the finish of subsequent season, the Lakers can absolutely give Doncic the keys to the franchise, throwing huge cash at gamers who he would need them to focus on.
The Lakers are anticipated to carry onto Austin Reaves at the same time as he approaches free company of his personal, however with James and Ayton each on restricted offers, by the point 2027 (and even 2026) rolls round, the Lakers may have an open roster spot and sufficient cash to signal a celebrity in free company, supplied they play their playing cards proper.
After all, Doncic might merely wait and signal his extension subsequent summer time. In any case, the potential of ultimately getting a $406 million deal is tough to cross up, though if he has religion in his talents to stay elite effectively into his 30s, he might earn more money in the long term and assist construct a greater workforce if he takes the deal on August 2 of this summer time.
