Luka Doncic‘s meteoric rise in Los Angeles has taken on a new twist, as contract talks between the All-NBA guard and the Lakers are now at the center of the sports conversation and drawing comparisons to one of the boldest moves in modern baseball.
With Lakers owner Mark Walter‘s reputation for making jaw-dropping commitments, basketball insiders are openly wondering if Los Angeles is about to bring the Dodgers‘ blockbuster mentality to the NBA.
Doncic has not just lived up to the hype since his high-profile trade from Dallas-he’s transformed expectations for the Lakers‘ future.
The 25-year-old, already a five-time All-NBA First Team selection and last season’s scoring champion, now has the opportunity to reshape his career and the Lakers‘ trajectory with a single signature.
Starting August 2, the franchise can formally offer Doncic an extension, making him the face of the purple and gold for years to come.
But with the NBA’s landscape shifting, the central question is not just “Will the Lakers pay up?” it’s how creative they’re willing to be to keep Doncic in Los Angeles for the long term. And it’s here that the whispers of a Shohei Ohtani-style deal have taken on a life of their own.
Mark Walter’s Ohtani precedent puts Lakers in the spotlight
Walter, who also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, stunned the sports world last winter by approving a record $700 million contract for baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani.
As ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne noted, “Mark Walter, who owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, didn’t bat an eyelash giving Shohei Ohtani $700 million. [The Lakers] got it.”
The comparison is hard to ignore-both Ohtani and Doncic are transcendent international talents, both arrived in LA amid frenzied expectations, and both represent franchise-altering opportunities.
But there are critical differences. Baseball’s lack of a salary cap allowed the Dodgers to defer $680 million of Ohtani’s deal, making the contract palatable within team budgets.
In contrast, the NBA’s complex salary cap rules, luxury tax apron, and contract structures mean the Lakers have to operate with surgical precision.
There are no creative deferments here, every dollar spent has ramifications for roster flexibility and championship-building.
Even so, the Lakers are ready to make a bold offer. Insiders say the team prefers a four-year, $229 million max contract, providing stability for both sides.
Doncic‘s camp, though, is reportedly considering a three-year, $165 million deal with a player option, setting up a possible record-smashing payday in 2028, when Doncic could be eligible for a five-year, $417 million extension after a decade in the league.
Doncic’s performance since joining the Lakers has only increased the stakes. While his shooting dipped at times in the adjustment period, he still managed a strong 37.9 percent from three and was a constant threat alongside LeBron James.
Team officials are confident that a full season in Los Angeles will unlock even more from Doncic, who has already shown he can lead a team to the NBA Finals.
The next chapter in the Lakers‘ pursuit of greatness will be defined by these negotiations. Will Mark Walter’s willingness to spend, and Doncic‘s desire for both championships and generational wealth, create a new blueprint for NBA superstars? Or will the franchise hit roadblocks that no amount of financial firepower can overcome?
What is certain is that, in a city built on spectacle, Doncic‘s contract decision is shaping up to be the most captivating story of the NBA offseason-and one that could redefine what’s possible for stars and teams in the modern era.
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