The Los Angeles Lakers will be looking to get their team in place for the next season. However, apart from securing some great picks for their team, the Lakers must concentrate on a very important matter on hand. Locking in Luka Doncic for a long term contract. Now, with LeBron James in the twilight of his career, Doncic is expected to become the pillar for the Lakers. Thus, it is important for the Lakers to get in a solid contract ready for Doncic.
Pondering on the possibilities, ESPN analyst Bobby Marks had quite a few suggestions to make. Marks opined that the best option for Doncic will be to follow a route that allows him to re-enter the free agency. This, in turn, will help him make up for the money he lost while he was traded by the Mavericks. Thus, as of now, Doncic might sign a $160 million contract extension for 3 years, as per Marks.
“Doncic and the Lakers can agree to a three-year, $160 million extension after the NBA Finals conclude,” wrote Marks.
PROJECTION: Bobby Marks predicts Luka Dončić will sign a three-year, $165M deal with the Lakers this offseason, including a player option for 2028-29. Giving him flexibility to hit free agency early and recoup what he lost leaving Dallas. 🚨
— Lakers Better (@LakersBetter) June 3, 2025
(via @espn) pic.twitter.com/d5Bm5FDG4q
However, that was not all. Marks also stated that if the Lakers wanted him to extend for a maximum period of 4 years, they would have to wait. Since Doncic got traded on February 2, he can only sign a 4-year contract on or after August 2. Moreover, Marks also predicted that in that case, the Lakers might offer him $229 million. Meanwhile, looking to achieve better results next year, LeBron James heaped praises on the 25-year-old.
LeBron James Opines On Why Luka Doncic Is A Game Changer
LeBron James and Luka Doncic have been a star pair in the making. With the duo looking to make the most for the Lakers, this year did not turn out to be as expected. However, even then, James seemed to be quite impressed with how Doncic performed this season. He also compared the 25-year-old’s leadership skills with the likes of Steven Ash and Chris Paul. Speaking on the ‘Mind The Game’ podcast, James opined on why Doncic is such a unique talent.
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“He plays the game how I’ve always wanted to inspire the next generation to play the game… It’s always his pace… He’s never been on the floor where he’s allowed someone to dictate where they will put him on the floor,” said James.
.@luka7doncic has mastered playing at his own pace.
— Mind the Game (@mindthegamepod) June 1, 2025
Catch up on part 1 of Luka's guest appearance on our YouTube: https://t.co/feX8eUUVkU pic.twitter.com/8ipGD7G5Px
Thus, with things looking quite interesting, it remains to be seen how Luka Doncic’s situation will develop in the future.
