The Los Angeles Lakers are operating like a team that’s ready to move on from LeBron James and transition into the Luka Doncic era.
That makes perfect sense given his youth, potential and what they had to give up to get him.
However, that’s also why getting him to sign a contract extension is so crucial for GM Rob Pelinka.
Unfortunately, ESPN insider Tim McMahon believes it will take a long while before the team gets him to put pen to paper.
That’s due to Doncic’s contract:Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) dribbles the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Game 3 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Target Center.
Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic dribbles against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Game 3 of the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Target Center.
“The whole reason [Doncic’s extension eligibility date is] Aug. 2 and not like July 2 is because it has to be timed to when the contract was signed,” McMahon revealed on “The Hoop Collective” podcast.
McMahon added that Doncic has made it a priority to play with the national team, so he’s not going to get into contract extension talks until after EuroBasket is over:
“The reason the contract was signed Aug. 2 is because his deal with the Mavericks was, ‘Hey, I’m going to go play for Slovenia. This is the year they qualify for the Olympics and than made the run in the Olympics and we’ll take care of this after the Olympics.’ So I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he told the Lakers, ‘Hey, EuroBasket is coming and I’m going to play in EuroBasket for my national team, and we’ll take care of this after that,’” he added.
The 26-year-old superstar could’ve signed a five-year, $345 million supermax contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks.
Unfortunately for him, the trade lowered those numbers to four years and almost $230 million.
Doncic has a player option after next season, and he’s slated to make nearly $46 million in 2025-26. Getting a long-term deal done should be a no-brainer for both parties, but if this trade proved something, it is that no one is safe in the NBA.
