Report: Lakers Projecting Nothing But Confidence About Signing Luka Doncic To Extension

According to Jake Fischer and Marc Stein, the Los Angeles Lakers are projecting nothing but confidence about signing Luka Doncic to an extension. 

Los Angeles can sign Doncic to a four-year, $229 million contract in August. Doncic will make $46 million next season. He has a player option worth $48.9 million for the 2026-27 season. 

Doncic had dinner with Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick on Friday in Los Angeles. 

“It should be noted that the Lakers are projecting nothing but confidence about securing Dončić’s eventual signature on a contract extension … even as they’re just beginning a three-month wait for it,” Fischer and Stein wrote. “At an end-of-season news conference Thursday, Pelinka spoke with a loud long-term tone, openly describing Dončić as a cornerstone in Lakerland after the league-shaking trade with Dallas to acquire the five-time All-NBA first team selection on the weekend before the Feb. 6 trade deadline.”

Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists with the Lakers in the regular season. The future Hall of Famer then put up 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the Minnesota Timberwolves series.

The Lakers lost to the Timberwolves in five games. 

“It’s incredibly exciting to have the promise of him in our next decade of Laker basketball with being able to build a team around him and him being at the center of our franchise,” Pelinka said during his end-of-the-season press conference. “Our partnership with him has been incredible. We’re appreciative and grateful and can’t wait to get to the work, really starting today, of getting ready for next year.”

Doncic is a gifted offensive player. However, he’s one of the worst defenders in the NBA. The Timberwolves hunted him on defense and had their way with him. 

Doncic has to lose weight and get in better shape. Only then will the Lakers compete for a championship.

LeBron James can’t be in better shape than Doncic, who is only 26. James is 40. He’s the oldest active player in the NBA.