What a Luka Doncic Contract Extension Looks Like For the Lakers
Luka Doncic is a Laker, and now it is time for the franchise to make him a Laker for life. The Slovenian superstar is eligible for a contract extension beginning on August 2nd that could keep him in LA for the rest of the 2020s, and there are multiple pathways that both Doncic and the Lakers can take to get this deal done.
Long Term Extension
The first route the two parties could go would undoubtedly be the best and least stressful route for the Lakers. Doncic would sign a four-year, $229 million max contract, with the first year of that deal replacing the player option he has coming next season, per Bobby Marks.
This would be the longest extension the Lakers could sign Doncic to, and it would give them plenty of time to construct a winning roster around him both with and without LeBron James.
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. 🚨
(via @espn) pic.twitter.com/d5Bm5FDG4q
— Lakers Better (@LakersBetter) June 3, 2025
A Shorter Deal
The four-year extension may be what is best for the Lakers, but it is not necessarily what is best for Doncic. The extension that is better for him would be a three-year, $165 million deal.
This is better for Doncic for multiple reasons. He could re-enter free agency and secure another payday—something he’s surely aiming for, especially since he would have qualified for a supermax contract prior to the trade.
Secondly, a shorter deal puts more pressure on the Lakers’ front office to build a championship-caliber team around him. The Lakers would have to act faster, knowing their window is shorter and that Doncic could leave if the post-LeBron era proves to be difficult to manage.
Which Deal Gets Done?
Considering the circumstances, it is much more likely that Doncic opts for the short-term extension rather than the one that locks him up for a bit longer. It gives him more leverage and the ability to chase another payday.
However, there is no reason to panic if and when this does become reality, as Doncic has stated that he enjoys LA and would like to continue playing there. At the end of the day, as long as Rob Pelinka and co build a winning roster, Doncic should be here to stay. The deadline for him to sign an extension this summer is June 30th.
