Report: Luka Doncic’s Uncertain Future Primary Reason Lakers Got Him Without Giving Up 2031 1st Round Pick

According to Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Luka Doncic‘s uncertain future is the primary reason the Los Angeles Lakers got him without giving up their 2031 first-round pick. 

The Lakers traded Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks for Doncic. 

“The Lakers did the deal without any assurances that Dončić, who has a player option worth $48.9 million for the 2026-27 season and is extension eligible on Aug. 2, would re-sign,” Buha and Amick wrote. “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. But the Lakers learned a long time ago that star players don’t always decide to stick around, as they traded with Orlando for Dwight Howard in the summer of 2012 only to see him head to Houston in free agency a year later.

“And when it came to the Mavericks-Lakers trade talks that led to the deal, league and team sources say Dončić’s uncertain long-term status was the primary reason the Lakers were able to avoid giving up their 2031 first-round pick in the deal (Davis, Max Christie and a 2029 first went to Dallas).”

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. 

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. 

“Dončić also could choose to play out his contract, opt out after 2025-26 and then re-sign for five years, $296 million, or sign with another team for four years, $219 million,” Buha and Amick wrote. “According to team sources, the Lakers will be amenable to whatever contract structure Dončić desires.”