According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Luka Doncic is “fully committed” to the Los Angeles Lakers.
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.
“I would be shocked if there’s not some sort of extension this summer,” MacMahon said. “There’s a lot of factors. I don’t want to bog you down with CBA minutia and all that kind of stuff, but what I know of Luka, and I haven’t talked to him directly about this, but talking to people who know Luka well, I think he’s fully committed to LA now.
“His heart was broken, but he’s fully committed to the Lakers. His goal now is to win championships with that franchise.”
Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists with the Lakers in the regular season after the Dallas Mavericks traded him in February. The All-Star 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 despite having home-court advantage in the series.
Lakers exec Rob Pelinka told local reporters during his exit interview that he’s looking forward to building around Doncic for the foreseeable future.
“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. “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 talented offensive player. However, he’s one of the worst defenders in the NBA.
The Timberwolves hunted Doncic on defense and had their way with him in the first round of the playoffs.
Doncic must lose weight and get in better shape this summer. Only then will the Lakers compete for a title.
LeBron James can’t be in better shape than Doncic, who is only 26 years old. James is 40 years old. He’s the oldest active player in the NBA, but didn’t look like it in the playoffs.
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