Report: Luka Doncic ‘Widely Expected’ To Sign New Deal With Lakers

May 2, 2025

According to Sam Amick and Jovan Buha of The Athletic, Luka Doncic is “widely expected” to sign a new deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Doncic has a few options at his disposal.

“Depending on Dončić’s preference, he has multiple pathways to his next contract,” Amick and Buha wrote. “Beginning on Aug. 2, he can sign a four-year, $229 million extension. To recoup the money he lost in the trade from losing his supermax eligibility, Dončić could sign a shorter three-year, $165 million extension, with a player option for 2028-29 that would coincide with reaching 10 years of service to be eligible for the 35 percent max. In that scenario, he could sign a five-year, $418 million deal in the 2028 offseason.

“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. According to team sources, the Lakers will be amenable to whatever contract structure Dončić desires.”

Doncic appeared in 28 games with the Lakers during the regular season. He averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.4 blocks.

The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs in five games. Doncic, 26, averaged 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks in the five-game series.

“While league and team sources say the partnership has been very positive for all parties, with the Lakers going to great lengths to make Dončić aware that they want him to lead the way in their next era, it remains unclear how the five-time All-Star will handle his contract situation,” Amick and Buha wrote. “And while he told ESPN before the postseason that he wants to stay with the Lakers, they won’t rest easy until a deal is actually done.”

Doncic will make $46 million next season. He has a player option worth $48.9 million for the 2026-27 season.

The Lakers went 50-32 this season. They were the third seed in the West. Losing in the first round to the Timberwolves wasn’t what the franchise expected to happen, but Los Angeles had no center and Doncic was terrible on defense.