LOS ANGELES – The Lakers shifted their trajectory the moment they acquired Luka Doncic in February. Everything since has centered on him. A five-time All-NBA selection by age 26, Doncic signed a three-year, $165 million extension without hesitation. That commitment gave the front office a renewed sense of direction—one rooted in long-term flexibility rather than urgency. But that direction may already be headed for trouble. The Lakers’ plan to build around Doncic, at its core, is about patience. The front office aims to maximize optionality by 2026, potentially even 2027, when they hope to build a true contender around their new centerpiece. However, that strategy faces steep odds in the modern NBA.
Why Lakers’ Big Doncic Plan Is Already Doomed To Fail
Cap Space, in Theory
Financially, the math appears sound. If Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, Maxi Kleber, and even LeBron James aren’t on the books next offseason, and if Austin Reaves declines his $14.9 million option, the Lakers could have north of $60 million in cap space.
That’s a sizable figure, especially when coupled with Doncic’s presence. But for a team in the loaded Western Conference, it may not be enough. Building a championship team around Doncic with just that space is a gamble. The front office knows the real window opens in 2027.
That’s when the Lakers’ plan to build around Doncic becomes most aggressive. By then, the organization could clear close to $100 million. The list of potential free agents that summer reads like an All-NBA ballot: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, Karl-Anthony Towns, Donovan Mitchell, and former Laker Anthony Davis could all hit the market.
The 2019 Blueprint, Revisited
The Lakers have succeeded with this approach before. In 2018, they created cap room and landed LeBron. In 2019, they traded for Davis and surrounded the duo with veterans. One year later, they lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
That’s the model the Lakers hope to repeat. But what worked then may not work now.
CBA Changes Shift the Landscape
Under the new collective bargaining agreement, stars have more reasons to stay. Bigger raises, earlier extension windows, and more lucrative deals heavily favor incumbent teams. That’s already reshaping how player movement works.
This summer alone, stars like Giannis, Davis, Mitchell, Jimmy Butler, and Lauri Markkanen could have been free agents but all signed extensions prior. So did key role players like Derrick White and Ivica Zubac. Free agency, once a path to fast improvement, has all but dried up.
In this new environment, stars rarely become available on the open market. Teams now trade for top-tier talent instead of waiting on cap space to do the heavy lifting.
Outdated Beliefs, Costly Bets
That’s the flaw in the Lakers’ approach. Their plan to build around Doncic leans on an outdated belief—that cap room, a glamorous market, and a marquee star will be enough to lure elite players. But the game has changed. Golden State, New York, Boston—these teams got better through trades, not free agency.
Doncic may be the right cornerstone. But the strategy around him feels stuck in the past. In a league evolving fast, betting on yesterday’s playbook rarely wins championships.
As the second apron tightens its grip on more front offices, expensive rosters may soon look for escape hatches. That shift could benefit the Lakers. Even if they hold off on spending big in free agency next summer, they could still improve Doncic’s supporting cast through trades—particularly ones where salary doesn’t have to match.
It’s a viable route and one that could yield results. Still, it’s unlikely to bring another star next to Doncic. So for the Lakers to achieve their dreams of building a contender around him, they will have to resort to using their prized draft assets.
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