The earthquake caused by Luka Doncic’s trade invites the question of whether the Lakers are going to be the Slovenian point guard’s team or will still be LeBron James’. In the franchise, not a single sheet of paper moves without the legendary forward’s approval. That’s why it’s so surprising that he didn’t know anything about one of the most important market moves in NBA history.
Cohabitation will be unavoidable at least for the remainder of the season. And, probably, one more. LeBron has a player option for 2025-26 for $52.6 million. If he were to win the ring in the current campaign and after fulfilling his dream of playing alongside his son Bronny, he might consider retirement. If not, all signs point to at least one last dance with his new partner. “I’m a Laker and I’m happy. I’ve been very happy being a Laker for the last six years and hopefully it will continue to be so, but I don’t have the answer for how long it will be,” he has said on occasion.
By the time he decides to retire, the Lakers have already found a worthy successor, something they did not see in the figure of Anthony Davis. It will be Doncic, 25, who will carry the weight of a franchise that was previously held by LeBron, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Except for Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Bill Russell and a few other exceptions, the best always wore purple and gold.
Doncic is a one-of-a-kind global superstar. His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for this team
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka is clear about what they have achieved by signing Doncic. “A one-of-a-kind global superstar who will lead this franchise for years to come,” he said, while visualizing him leading the group to fight for rings. “His killer instincts and commitment to winning championships will be a driving force for this team,” he added.
Goodbye to the supermax contract
The Slovenian point guard’s contract is for five seasons and runs until 2026-27, although the last one is optional on his part. That’s why the summer of 2026 was earmarked by some franchises to bid for him in case he hit the market.
At the end of the current season, if he stayed with the Mavericks, he would have been eligible to sign a supermax contract for five years and $345 million, the largest in NBA history. Having been traded, there is no longer an option. And it’s not as if Dallas were totally convinced to give it to him. The trade may have something to do with avoiding that controversy.
Now, the Lakers are ambitious about their intentions to continue to strengthen. “We will be relentless in building a roster around the on-court vision that coach Redick has for this team and there is an unwavering commitment to that work to serve our fans. We are grateful for today and look forward to what’s next,” Pelinka explained.
The next arrival should be a center
The next to arrive, before the transfer market closes on Thursday, could be a center, as the paint has been left without Anthony Davis. In recent weeks, the names of Jusuf Nurkic (Suns), Jonas Valanciunas (Wizards), Nikola Vucevic (Bulls), Clint Capela (Hawks), Robert Williams (Blazers) and Walker Kessler (Jazz) have been linked to the Lakers. If the player who arrives has defensive skills, all the better, as Davis was a defensive stalwart.
We will be relentless in building the squad. We are grateful for today and look forward to what comes next
LeBron and Doncic had an excellent relationship off the court. After their clashes it was common to see them talking, joking, giving effusive hugs… When the point guard recovers, they will have to take that good chemistry to the court. Along with Oscar Robertson, they are the only players who throughout their careers have averages of 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists per game. A Hollywood-worthy duo.
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