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On Aug. 2, the Lakers can offer Doncic a four-year, $229 million extension. Doncic could also opt to sign a three-year, $165 million extension with a player option in 2028, according to ESPN NBA front office insider Bobby Marks, which would then allow him to sign a max deal in 2028 that would give him 35% of the salary cap for five seasons.

Sources close to Doncic say he will take his time with his decision, even though he told ESPN's Malika Andrews before the playoffs that he wants to stay in Los Angeles.

Doncic was publicly and privately heartbroken by the trade to the Lakers. He'd said he wanted to retire in Dallas. But there is a silver lining to be found, a balm to heal the wounds of a defeat that raises more questions than answers.

"For Luka," a source close to Doncic told ESPN, "he's kind of like, 'I'm wanted here.'"

James made a concerted effort to empower Doncic since he arrived in L.A., sources said, and will not try to sway his teammate's decision.

"No, that ain't my job," James told ESPN. "I think … I don't think, I know, Luka knows how I feel about him. And ultimately, that trade happened for the future. That's not for me. Luka has to decide what he has to do with his future. He's [26] years old, I'm 40, so he can't be basing his career off me. That's just real.

"But I hope, obviously, [he stays long term]. Laker fans f—ing love him here. L.A. has accepted him. We love him as a teammate, as a brother. But ultimately, he's got to make a decision for him. S—, I ain't going to be around much longer."

The Lakers have made it clear they want to invest in Doncic for the long term.

"I think Luka Doncic joining forces with the Los Angeles Lakers is a seismic event in NBA history," Pelinka said at his introductory news conference.

But until that day in August comes, the team will be tasked with selling its vision and showing Doncic that this year's first-round loss was an aberration, a bumpy start to what they hope is a long and fruitful journey together.

41 comments

  2. Maybe they should trade Luka for a player like Anthony Davis

  6. Realistically how many years does Lebron have in him? I feel this is the first time when he says “I am not going to be here for long” and it sort of feels real. Crazy that I basically only started paying attention to the NBA when he was 10 years in his career and now he has more than doubled those years and he is still one of the top whatever players.

    And now he is tasked with convincing one of the new faces of the league to stay with his team, but Doncic’s next contract will likely span longer than Lebron’s career. That’s insane

  7. Supermax is off the table because of dumbass Nico. Pretty much anyone has a shot now, I guess.

  9. Luka should play with Jokic in denver or former teammate Brunson in NY

    or he can piss off the Mavs FO even more & come
    back to Texas with us or Houston, I know he misses our BBQ/Mexican food

    Honorable Mention to Orlando, I wanna see what he does with Paolo & maybe Franz if he’s able to stay

  11. If Luka **AND** Lebron left the Lakers over the summer, that would be the funniest shit ever.

  12. Luka going to the kings would be the funniest thing I’ve ever seen, just spitting in the face of Vlade Divac

  14. LeBron basically telling Luka to run. Pelinka couldn’t get a center for years and now with no assets how they gonna buil a team around Luka? When bron retires his running mate gonna be Reaves that’s a backcourt duo destined to fail. Luka better ask for a trade to Houston, Spurs or Brooklyn or he gonna rot in LA.

  15. Can’t wait to hear about this every day for the entire year.

    Luka will be spotted while wearing green one day and there will be 100 segments about how he’s going to be a celtic.

  16. LeBron’s 40, he aint recruiting guys at this point. He’ll probably be retired by the time Luka is into another contract

  18. Luka looks weird in a Laker uniform. Would like to see him somewhere less yellow.

  19. James family need to go back to Cleveland for a twilight tour

  21. unless a possibility of teaming up with jokic (because of their friendship) comes up, i’m sure he’ll sign with the lakers

  23. We’re in the middle of the playoffs and Lakers off-season rumors and the most popular topics

    I’m a Lakers fan and I’m still wondering why y’all can’t stop talking about the Lakers

  24. Is there a team that could make a splash and sign luka, jokic and giannis?

  27. Luka resigning with the mavs after they fire nico this off-season *peak drama*

  31. Luka has a year left before his player option. He’s going to play that out and then make his choice. He doesn’t want to get stuck with a rebuild if LeBron leaves/retires.

    Which means Pelinka will offer LeBron an extension to convince Luka to stay beyond next year.

  32. PLEASE BOTH LEAVE

    PLEASE

    I WANT CHAOS

    BURN THE LAKERS TO THE GROUND

  34. Luka should leave solely because Pelinka colluded with Nico to keep him from a max contract. Also, it would be hilarious for everyone not living in LA.

  37. Think about it… Luka + Zion

    Just alone for the Scott Steiner memes this is worth it

  38. This is exactly why the trade made sense and wasn’t a fleece and might turn out to be a fleece the other direction. They traded for 1/2 a season of Luka under contract.

  39. Are the remaining teams in the playoffs so boring that we’re still talking about the Lakers 24/7?

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