The Lakers and Luka Dončić look to be set for a long-term partnership as the superstar is expected to commit to the franchise for years to come.
When the Lakers traded for Luka Dončić, they did so without any assurances that he would be committed to the franchise long-term.
Obviously, that wouldn’t change whether or not they would do the deal, but it could have been something that hung over the team in the coming seasons. Instead, though, it seems pretty clear that Luka and the Lakers will be a long-term partnership.
Multiple times since he joined the Lakers, Luka has either said directly he wants his future to be in Los Angeles. At his intro presser, he spoke about wanting a long-term future in LA. In an interview with Malika Andrews of ESPN, he said his loyalty now transfers to the Lakers and that he wants to stay in Los Angeles.
It should be no shock, then, that the expectation is he will sign a long-term contract with the Lakers. In an article on Friday, Jovan Buha of The Athletic reported that it’s “widely believed” Luka would sign a long-term deal with the franchise.
Yet despite all the hoopla that has followed the deal, with the Lakers universally praised for landing a superstar in his prime and the Dallas Mavericks widely criticized for not only dealing Dončić but also getting so little in return, there was a bit of fine print that was mostly forgotten in the discourse: The Lakers did the deal without any assurances that Dončić, who has a player option worth $48.9 million for the 2026-27 season and is extension eligible on Aug. 2, would re-sign.
That fact might seem like a technicality to some, as Dončić is widely expected to commit to a long-term Lakers future at some point.
There are a number of ways his contract situation could play out. As Buha notes, he could simply sign an extension this summer, though that wouldn’t be the most profitable path for him. He could, instead, wait until next summer, opt out of his contract and sign a short-term deal that would set him up for an even bigger pay raise in the future.
Our own Bryan Toporek broke down all the scenarios in the aftermath of the trade, but suffice to say Luka and his team will have a number of options depending on their preference.
And whatever path they choose, the Lakers are reportedly willing to play ball with Luka, as Buha also reported.
According to team sources, the Lakers will be amenable to whatever contract structure Dončić desires.
Things could start falling into place as early as this summer. But regardless of the timeline, all indications are that the Lakers and Luka are set for a long-term partnership.
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