The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing to officially make Luka Doncic the future face of the franchise this weekend. The five-time All-NBA First-Team selection, who did not even expect to land in LA six months ago, will have the opportunity to ink a massive contract extension starting on Aug. 2. The consensus is that he will put pen to paper and formally commit to the Purple and Gold. The only question, though, and it is a potentially expensive one, is what kind of deal will Doncic sign?
The Lakers' new ownership group, led by Los Angeles Dodgers controlling owner Mark Walter, would love it if the Slovenian superstar agreed to a four-year, $229 million max deal. However, most within the organization likely anticipate him to push for a three-year, $165 million contract that carries a player option on the third season. The reason? It is quite simple: lots and lots of money.
Doncic can potentially secure a historically large bag for himself if he hits the market after accruing 10 years of NBA service time. Once a player reaches that benchmark, they can rake in up to 35 percent of the team's salary cap. Assuming both sides are still happy with their marriage by the summer of 2028, they can renew their vows via an eye-popping five-year deal worth $417 million.
No one would be talking about the approximately $116 million that Doncic missed out on after the Dallas Mavericks traded him in February. It is never easy to dole out absurd dollar figures, but a longtime ESPN reporter is reminding everyone that the new man in charge is not afraid to dig deep into his wallet in order to lock up a transcendent talent.
“Mark Walter, who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, didn't bat an eyelash giving Shohei Ohtani $700 million,” Ramona Shelburne said on “NBA Today.” “{The Lakers} got it.”
"[The Dodgers] didn't bat an eyelash giving Shohei Ohtani 700 million dollars … [the Lakers] got it."@ramonashelburne puts things in perspective as Luka Dončić has a 4 year/$229M extension on the line 💰👀 pic.twitter.com/LNHPnFG630
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) August 1, 2025
Are Luka Doncic and the Lakers in it for the long haul?
Like Malika Andrews notes in the clip above, the two situations are a bit different. MLB does not impose a salary cap, at least not yet, giving any owner the choice to run up payroll costs just as long as they are willing to pay the luxury tax penalties. Moreover, the remarkable slugger/pitcher agreed to defer $680 million of his contract, extending an unprecedented level of patience when it comes to accumulating his money. Such flexibility is not fathomable under the NBA's current system.
Walter would not be able to pull off such financial maneuvering with the Lakers. Retaining top basketball players while also building a sustainable championship contender is harder than ever in this tax-apron era. The will to invest in a title is not enough anymore. One must also figure out how to stay at the pinnacle without engaging in reckless spending practices.
That being said, based on how he approached negotiations with a one-of-a-kind juggernaut like Ohtani, Walter would probably feel inclined to pledge $417 million if Luka Doncic stays on his present trajectory.
The 2023-24 scoring king led the Mavs to an NBA Finals appearance at just 25 years of age. He is sporting a much leaner look and has technically not even entered his physical prime yet. Doncic occasionally struggled on offense in his first 28 games with Los Angeles, shooting 43.8 percent from the field, but he still posted an efficient 37.9 percentage from 3-point range. The magnificent guard should theoretically become more comfortable playing alongside LeBron James over the course of a full season.
Regardless of what 2028 holds, the Lakers are ready to throw Hollywood's latest high-end wedding. They earnestly hope that Doncic walks down the aisle in the coming days. If by some unforeseen chance LA is left at the altar in tears, then its reputation will suffer irreparable damage.
