The Los Angeles Lakers have nothing to worry about Luka Dončić‘s long-term future as the Slovenian star is “fully committed” with the franchise, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
“I would be shocked if there’s not some sort of extension this summer, you know, and what that looks like, there’s a lot of factors… with what I know of Luka, and I haven’t talked to him directly about this, but you know, talking to people who know Luka well, I think he wants to give the Lakers, like, he’s fully committed to L.A. now,” MacMahon said on the “Dan Patrick Show” on Monday. “His heart was broken, but he’s fully committed now to the Lakers, and you know, his goal now is to win championships with that franchise.”
Dončić is extension-eligible starting Aug. 2 and as he told ESPN’s Malika Andrews in an interview before the playoffs, his loyalty is now with the Lakers and he intends to stay in Los Angeles.
Luka Expected to Sign Lakers Extension
The new Lakers star is expected to sign an extension, according to The Athletic’s Jovan Buha and Sam Amick.
“That fact might seem like a technicality to some, as Dončić is widely expected to commit to a long-term Lakers future at some point,” Buha and Amick reported.
The only mystery at this point is for how much and how long?
ESPN’s front office insider Bobby Marks sees Dončić signing a shorter deal than the four-year, $229 million max extension the Lakers could offer.
“More likely: a three-year, $165 million extension that includes a player option in the third year. The short-term extension allows Doncic to reenter free agency sooner and potentially recoup the $345 million he lost when he was traded from the Mavericks,” Marks wrote in his offseason guide for the Lakers.
Two days after the Lakers were eliminated in the postseason, Dončić was spotted leaving Craig’s in West Hollywood with coach JJ Redick and team president Rob Pelinka.
NBA insiders Jake Fischer and Marc Stein reported that Dončić’s business manager Lara Beth Seager also attended the private meeting.
Veiled Shot at Luka?
Redick’s comments about getting into championship shape during his end-of-season press conference were seen as a veiled shot at Luka Dončić.
“I’ll start with the offseason and the work that’s required in an offseason to be in championship shape,” Redick told reporters on Thursday. “And we have a ways to go as a roster. And certainly, there are individuals who were in phenomenal shape. There are certainly other ones that could have been in better shape. That’s where my mind goes immediately, is we have to get in championship shape.”
“Get Up” host Mike Greenberg and ESPN’s NBA insider Brian Windhorst agreed that Redick was referring to Dončić, whose poor conditioning and off-court habits were reported as reasons why the Dallas Mavericks traded him.
“There isn’t any question that he is talking directly to Luka Dončić there, right?” Greenberg asked Windhorst.
“Yeah,” Windhorst replied. “I can see Nico Harrison sort of lighting a cigar, watching that press conference.”
Dončić missed 32 games this season, including 22 due to a nagging calf injury which he sustained while still in Dallas. In their 103-96 Game 5 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves which ended the Lakers’ season, Dončić hurt his back before halftime.
