Lakers star Luka Doncic is being groomed to take over the team from LeBron James after he retires. The signs of the transition from the LeBron era to the Doncic era in the Lakers have been clear ever since he was traded from the Mavericks. But the biggest question that Doncic and the Lakers faced in the upcoming summer is regarding his contract extension.
Doncic was eligible for a five-year, $345.3 million supermax contract extension with the Mavericks, but he was traded to the Lakers. Now, he can sign a $228 million extension with the Lakers. The trade meant he’ll miss out on the larger potential supermax deal and lose over $100 million in potential income.
Now, NBA Insider Bobby Marks has predicted that the Lakers’ star will take a further $63 million hit on his potential earnings and sign a three-year, $165 million extension. This comes in light of rumors that LeBron James will also exercise his player option and is not expected to take a friendlier deal for the team.
Considering that the Lakers have clarified that they are going to build their roster around Doncic now, it is not far-fetched to predict that it will have to be Doncic who makes the sacrifice for the Lakers. He reportedly demanded that the Lakers bring on an athletic lob threat, be it in the form of a center or wing. For the Lakers to be able to sign a high-caliber lob threat, they need cap space, which they won’t have enough of if Doncic takes the original deal.
The Lakers are currently not a second apron team. But for the 2025-26 season, they are only $16 million in salary cap space away from that category. This means that the only way the Lakers will be able to make big moves in the offseason and free agency is if James takes a team-friendly deal instead of exercising his player option or Doncic takes a massive pay cut.
Moreover, there is also the question of extending contracts of young talent like Austin Reaves, who is eligible for an extension from July 2025. If they do not have cap space to sign Reaves, they could likely lose him to free agency, as he is likely to command much more than what the Lakers will be capable of paying.
Lakers Trade Rumors: Targets And Best Fit
From Onyeka Okongwu to Brook Lopez, several big men have been rumored to be linked to the Lakers in a potential move in the offseason. The Lakers nearly acquired 7ft center Mark Williams in a trade with the Hornets. This trade was then reversed after the Hornets allegedly failed to meet a trade criterion.
One name very commonly brought up in discussions about the Lakers is Doncic’s former teammate Daniel Gafford. During Doncic’s time with the Mavericks, he developed strong chemistry with the 7-foot big man. From lobs on offense to shot blocking on defense, Daniel Gafford may be the best choice for the Mavericks.
During the Mavericks’ run to the NBA Finals last season, Gafford averaged 9.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 22 games. Moreover, this season, Gafford averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks in 57 games. His shot-blocking, rebounding, and lob threat on offense make him the perfect fit for this role.
