The arrival of Luka Doncic in New York last Sunday marked the beginning of a pivotal week. For the first time since entering the NBA, the Slovenian superstar interrupted his summer break in Europe to return to the United States before the start of training camp. This trip was presented as a promotional tour for the Jordan brand, of which Doncic is the image. He began his journey at Yankee Stadium, sharing with Aaron Judge, also sponsored by Jordan, and then headed west: first to Chicago, an emblematic place for Michael Jordan, and finally to Los Angeles. What became a true exhibition to show off the renewed physique of the 26-year-old player, and an announcement that Los Angeles will be more than a temporary home after the shocking transfer of the five-time All-Star from the Dallas Mavericks on February 1st. Doncic is scheduled to personally sign a three-year, $165 million contract extension with the Lakers on Saturday, the first day the team was eligible to offer him one. The third year will include a player option. Three months after Doncic’s first postseason appearance in Los Angeles was cut short, with the No. 3-seeded Lakers losing to the No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, Doncic’s dietary discipline and his notable physical transformation, highlighted on the cover of Men’s Health, were a statement of intent.
Now that Doncic’s decision to stay has resolved the biggest priority for the Lakers’ offseason, three key questions arise heading into Luka’s first full season in Los Angeles.Everyone has to improve.
Doncic
Why sign for three years instead of four?
According to NBA expert Bobby Marks, the largest contract the Lakers could have offered Doncic was four years and $229 million. So, after missing the opportunity to sign a five-year, $345 million supermax extension if he had stayed in Dallas, not to mention the difference in state taxes between California and Texas, why would he leave an additional $64 million in guaranteed money on the table? By signing a 2+1 extension, Doncic can become an unrestricted free agent in 2028 or 2029, when he will already have 10 years of service in the league. According to Marks’ projection of a 10% annual salary increase, another huge sum of money awaits Doncic. The Lakers will be able to renegotiate their agreement in the summer of 2027 and offer him a four-year, $323 million extension at that time. On the other hand, if Doncic plays the two additional guaranteed years of his contract and declines his player option for 2028-29, he could sign a five-year extension at that time worth about $418 million in his season at age 29. That possible deal could make him the first player in league history to earn a salary of $80 million per season, taking home almost $1 million per game. The last year of the agreement would be close to nine figures, with 95 million dollars, a high price for the face of a 10 billion dollar franchise.What are Doncic’s expectations for next season?
Processing the transfer from Dallas took Doncic some time. Based on the way the franchise and the fans treated him in his early days in the league, he thought he would retire as a Maverick after spending his entire career in Dallas, in the same way as franchise icon Dirk Nowitzki did. And after starting his professional career with Real Madrid as a teenager, he never even considered the possibility of being traded. When the shock subsided, Doncic’s mindset returned to when he played with Dallas: “win now” mode. Doncic could have made a multi-year commitment to the Lakers, but he hopes to be in contention every year. Doncic demonstrated his urgency through his off-season fitness regimen and by taking on a role in recruiting Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to Los Angeles. He has done it by adopting a collaborative approach. After Lakers’ president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka and coach JJ Redick took Doncic and his business manager, Lara Beth Seager, to dinner in May, the 1.98-meter guard left with a greater understanding of the team’s accounts. The team left with a better understanding of Doncic’s wishes.Pelinka and Redick used the dinner to examine the future salary space, the selections they possessed, the selections they did not possess, and to discuss how to approach their future together. Doncic was encouraged to share the archetypal players he felt the squad could use -a pick-and-pop shooter, a defender, a rim protector- so that the Lakers could identify realistic players who fit that mold.I don’t want to wait. I had a taste of the Finals. I’m going to be there again. So let’s do what we can now.
Doncic
How do the Lakers feel?
In a word: “Excited”. The organization’s goals are aligned with Doncic’s in the short term, and also with LeBron James’s.The Lakers’ strategy is based on flexibility, not the search for another potential star. The real mission, however, is to give the team as much maneuverability as possible, whether driven by necessity or opportunity, each season, while maintaining championship aspirations.This is a team that wants to win championships. That hasn’t changed and won’t change in the future.
Lakers Source
From the day Los Angeles separated from Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a future first-round pick to acquire Doncic, it was imperative to secure this commitment. Now that they have, the next era of Lakers basketball officially begins.If you don’t have options, you get stuck.
Lakers Source
