Latest news with #Doncic
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Lakers Get Extremely Positive Update About Luka Doncic's Future
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Lakers are fully focused on Luka Doncic as the future of their franchise. LeBron James is still on the roster, but over the last couple of weeks it has become clear that the team has moved on from focusing on him to Doncic. Unfortunately for James, that was always going to be the case the second Rob Pelinka pulled off the blockbuster trade to acquire Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks. While Doncic is the plan for the Lakers' future, they still need to sign him long-term. Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on March 27, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles against the Chicago Bulls during the first half at the United Center on March 27, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Photo byDoncic has one more season and a player option on a second left on his deal. It seems likely that he will want to get a massive long-term deal done after the 2025-26 season or potentially even before it. Read more: Report: Warriors Could Look to Sign Sleeper Free Agent Guard Keeping that in mind, a new update has given Los Angeles a lot of reason for optimism regarding being able to keep Doncic in town for years to come. As noted by ESPN insider Tim McMahon, Doncic's involvement in the Lakers' recent moves shows much more than just a will to win this season. "And that is not Luka's natural state," McMahon said. "The first several years of his career he basically said, 'Hey, I play. The front office puts the team together. I don't want anything to do with it.' And he didn't grow up in the AAU culture where you're constantly recruiting guys." He continued on, revealing more about what Doncic's actions in recruiting talent means for Los Angeles long-term. "I believe he also had some contact with Deandre Ayton," McMahon continued, "and I actually think that's the most significant part of all this because it does show that he's not only on the same page with the Lakers front office, but he is an active participant." Read more: Lakers' Bronny James Lands on Significant List After NBA Summer League During the 2024-25 NBA season after the trade, Doncic played in 28 games for the Lakers. He averaged 28.2 points per game to go along with 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists, and 1.6 steals, while shooting 43.8 percent from the floor and 37.9 percent from three-point range. Los Angeles has big plans for the future around Doncic. One report suggested that the Lakers would like to find a way to pair him with fellow NBA superstar Nikola Jokic. Only time will tell what the future has in store, but right now Los Angeles should be feeling very confident about its future with Doncic leading the charge. For more on the Los Angeles Lakers and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
NBC Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Five veteran NBA contract extensions to watch, including Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant
Contract extensions have already been the story of the offseason. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got a historic one — four years, $272.4 million, with him making more than $70 million in the final two seasons — and the Thunder also locked up Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren with ones. Devin Booker secured a massive extension, demonstrating his commitment to the Suns, while Nikola Jokić decided to wait a year. In contrast, LeBron James and the Lakers didn't extend his contract, instead, he simply picked up his option. The Pacers never extended Myles Turner and now he's a Buck. That doesn't mean the drama is over. Here are five veteran contract extensions that will come up in the next month and are worth keeping an eye on. Luka Doncic (Lakers) On Aug. 2, the Lakers can offer Doncic a four-year, $223 million extension. There are media members and others online who want to create a lot more drama and stress here — 'he didn't ask to be traded to the Lakers' or 'he may choose not to sign it' — than any reasonable reading of the situation suggests. While stunned by the trade when it happened, Doncic has never spoken ill of the Lakers organization. To the contrary, he has praised the Lakers and said he looked forward to meeting and working with new owner Mark Walter. Doncic has also worked this summer to help recruit Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart to Los Angeles. The Lakers are an amazing organization. I'm looking forward to meeting Mark and excited about the future. I am also grateful to Jeanie and the Buss family for welcoming me to LA, and I'm happy that Jeanie will continue to be involved. I look forward to working with both of them… Remember what every agent of a superstar tells their client in this moment: Sign for the most money you can get now, if you want out, we can always push for a trade in a year or two. All that said, don't expect Doncic to sign for the full four-year max on Aug. 2. He is expected to sign a three-year, $165 million max (or three plus a player option) because in three years he will have reached 10 years in the league and then can sign the 35% of the salary cap max (the most the Lakers or any team could offer right now is 30%). Also, because the Aug. 2 date falls during the EuroBasket championships where he will be playing with Slovenia, he could put off signing the deal until he returns to the United States in September (this has happened before). Just expect him to sign with the Lakers. Kevin Durant The Houston Rockets acquired Kevin Durant this summer and can offer him a two-year, $122.1 million extension. The Rockets wanted Durant, and Houston was on Durant's short list of places he wanted to get traded. When asked about the organization, Durant praised the Rockets. There is no doubt that an extension will be completed, and the sides have until next June to finalize it. The only question is whether Durant will take a bit of a haircut on the extension to save the suddenly very expensive Rockets some money. Don't be surprised if Durant's extension number ultimately comes in $10 million, give or take, below that max number — he's still going to get paid, but may be willing to help his new franchise out and keep a contender together a little longer. Trae Young The Atlanta Hawks can offer Young a four-year, $228.6 million max extension this offseason. The Hawks have retooled their roster this summer into one that could well be a top-four team in the East. They traded for Kristaps Porzingis, who brings much-needed paint protection and shot blocking to Atlanta, plus he will be a natural pick-and-pop partner with Young (if Porzingis can stay healthy, a big 'if'). Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a quality addition on the wing, not only because he can shoot, but also because paired with Dyson Daniels it gives the Hawks an elite wing defense. Luke Kennard adds even more shooting. On top of all that, the biggest Atlanta addition next season is getting Jalen Johnson back healthy. Gets some growth with Zaccharie Risacher in his second year and this is a good team. Young at the point leading this core makes sense, but at max money? Is Young a max player? Young was an All-Star last season, averaging 24.2 points and a league-high 11.6 assists per game while shooting 34% from beyond the arc. However, he also had a league-high 355 turnovers (4.7 per game), and he is a minus defender targeted by other teams. Expect an extension to get done, but don't be so sure it pays him more than $50 million a season, certainly not for the full four years. One option to watch for: A shorter-term deal, maybe two years after Young's $49 million option for next year (a two-year deal at $105 million) that lets everyone reset in a couple of years. There is no timeline pressure here — the sides can agree to an extension for almost a year (up to June 30, 2026). The risk for the Hawks in waiting is that Young could decline his player option and become a free agent next summer, which would be a bad outcome for them (losing him for nothing). De'Aaron Fox On Aug. 3, the San Antonio Spurs can offer Fox a four-year, $229 million max extension. When San Antonio traded for Fox at the February deadline, that outcome seemed a foregone conclusion. The Spurs pictured Fox and Victor Wembanyama as the core of the contender they were building. Then the Spurs missed the playoffs and the NBA lottery gods gifted them with the No. 2 pick and promising point guard Dylan Harper. Now the Spurs' 'problem' is figuring out how to fit Fox, Harper and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle together in the same backcourt — that's a good problem to have. San Antonio did the right thing and drafted the best player on the board in Harper, regardless of position, and they can figure out the fit as they go. The question with Fox's extension becomes this: If he is ultimately the guy left standing without a chair when the music stops, trading a four-year max contract will be challenging. At best. Can San Antonio convince Fox to take a shorter, two-year contract, one that has him hitting free agency (or getting another extension from the Spurs) when he hits 10 years of service in the league and can go after a 35% max (rather than his current 30% of the salary cap)? That shorter contract is also more tradable. Fox, also may prefer the security of a longer deal. This may be all about nothing, in the end the most likely outcome is the Spurs offer Fox the four-year max and he signs it. But this is now something worth watching. Mikal Bridges New York can offer Mikal Bridges a four-year, $156 million contract extension, but a couple of things are keeping that from becoming reality. One is the longshot hope that Giannis Antetokounmpo decides he wants out of Milwaukee, because sending Bridges to the Bucks would likely be a big part of that deal, something Knicks insider Ian Begley recently wrote. The problem with this idea is that Antetokounmpo himself said he would 'probably' stay with Milwaukee, and that's what people around the league have come to expect. The other holdup is the money, which is tied to how new coach Mike Brown might use Bridges. His play with the Knicks last season did not warrant a four-year extension at nearly $39 million per season, on average, but part of that was due to how Tom Thibodeau used him, as well as the rocky relationship. Bridges averaged 17.6 points per game and played solid defense, including two game-winning defensive plays in the playoffs against Boston. It ultimately comes down to how Brown plans to utilize Bridges and how he fits into the rotation. If Brown doesn't see a fit, expect the Knicks to look for a trade or try to get him to take a Jalen Brunson-like contract discount. If Brown sees a larger role for Bridges, it comes down to finding a number. It's all something to watch.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Luka Doncic isn't acting as if he doesn't want to stay with Lakers
At this point in the offseason, the attention for the Los Angeles Lakers has just begun to shift to Luka Doncic and the contract extension he will be eligible to sign starting on Aug. 2. He can sign a four-year deal worth as much as $228 million, but he may instead opt to sign a shorter-term extension that would allow him to opt out in 2028 and then receive a supermax deal. There has been a bit of anxiety regarding whether Doncic will stay with the Lakers past this coming season, especially since they may not have a truly championship-caliber roster. They got veteran guard Marcus Smart, the NBA's 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, to agree to sign with them on Saturday after agreeing to a contract buyout with the Washington Wizards, but they still need a little more help. Doncic reportedly helped recruit Smart, and as Dan Woike of The Athletic pointed out, the superstar appears to be acting like someone who wants to wear the Purple and Gold for a while. "While Dončić hasn't directly addressed his future with the franchise this summer — time he's spent in Europe putting together an all-time revenge glow-up — his actions behind the scenes crystalize why the Lakers are confident with how things stand," Woike wrote. "Dončić, according to league sources, had communicated his desires for a capable rim-running center, shooting help and defensive support. The Lakers responded by filling those needs with Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and, soon, Marcus Smart. "In addition to that, league sources said, Dončić has been an active recruiter for the Lakers this summer and helped secure commitments from Ayton and Smart after both unexpectedly hit free agency via contract buyouts. "The Lakers also posted an interview with Dončić on Saturday (taped during the season) that ended with him saying that he hoped his legacy with the Lakers would leave him known as 'the guy that brought championships to the city.' "All of it has the Lakers confident they're in alignment with Dončić in their plans to build a championship roster. "None of this is to say that Dončić was going to patiently wait for next summer or a talent-rich 2027 free agency crop for the Lakers to begin stacking their team. While Dončić and the Lakers understand their long-term flexibility needs, the short-term movement has, on paper, signaled a commitment to competing in the short term, provided some things break their way." Los Angeles landed Doncic in that stunning trade on Feb. 1 that sent out Anthony Davis, Max Christie and draft compensation. It signaled a shift in who the franchise revolves around, as it is now catering to Doncic after bending to almost every one of LeBron James' whims for nearly seven years. Despite persistent rumors that he may want to leave, James is expected to be with the Lakers once the new season starts, and possibly even beyond this coming season. Given that this could very well be his last season with them, they seem to have every incentive to try to win the NBA championship right now.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Shaquille O'Neal Reveals Strong Concern About Lakers
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Los Angeles Lakers have had a quiet NBA offseason thus far. Rob Pelinka has made a couple of outside moves, but the team has not had an aggressive approach thus far. Part of the reason for that is due to their financial situation. LeBron James opted in to the final year of his contract with the team that will pay him just over $52.6 million. They will also need to get a major long-term deal done with Luka Doncic in the near future. Pelinka and company are planning the future around Doncic. They do not want to make moves that will take them out of the running to bring in a future superstar to pair with Doncic. Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Shaquille O'Neal attends a semifinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena between the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks on December 14, 2024 in Las... Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Shaquille O'Neal attends a semifinal game of the Emirates NBA Cup at T-Mobile Arena between the Atlanta Hawks and the Milwaukee Bucks on December 14, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More Photo byWhile all of that makes sense, the Lakers do need to make moves if they want to compete for a championship this season. It seems likely that they will have one more year with Doncic and James playing together barring a trade or buyout with the 40-year-old superstar. Read more: Report: Lakers May Face Luka Doncic Threat From Western Conference Rival Shaquille O'Neal recently spoke out about the team. He revealed one major concern that he has about Los Angeles and the way the roster currently stands. During an exclusive interview with D.J. Siddiqi of O'Neal opened up that he doesn't think the Lakers have enough perimeter shooting. "They have a legitimate big now, got two premier players," O'Neal said. "I'm still worried about the shooting. It's a three-point league now. Not guys that can shoot, (I'm talking about) bonafide shooters. Guys that are guaranteed, like JJ Reddick. He was a bonafide shooter. They got the point guard, got the off-guard, got a legitimate center. Their chances are much better now." He also opened up about his thoughts on what kind of season the team should be able to put together. O'Neal expects Los Angeles to have some kind of home-court advantage come playoff time, which would place them among the top four teams in the Western Conference. "The Thunder are coming off the championship. They're going to be high, they know what it takes to win the championship," O'Neal said. "Denver, they're going to be making some noise. It's about you get eight spots to make the playoffs, they're going to have to be between one through eight. I expect them to have some type of home court advantage." Read more: LeBron James' NBA Future Gets Major Update Amid Lakers Drama It will be very interesting to see what the upcoming season has in store for the Lakers. Being led by Doncic and James will give them a fighting chance. Making the additions of Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia are quality moves, but O'Neal would like to see more shooting. Perhaps Pelinka can make that happen before the season gets underway. For more on the Los Angeles Lakers and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lakers are 'really confident' Luka Doncic will agree to extension
The Los Angeles Lakers may or not may be done making roster moves this summer. But they still have something big to get done before training camp starts in about two and a half months. Luka Doncic will be eligible to sign a contract extension on Aug. 2, and the Lakers can offer him $228 million over four years. He is currently preparing to represent his native Slovenia in the upcoming Eurobasket tournament, and he will not return to the States until very late in the offseason. It isn't necessarily a foregone conclusion that Doncic will agree to an extension before the start of the 2025-26 season, and if he doesn't, he can opt out of his current contract next summer. But Dan Woike of The Athletic told Colin Cowherd during an appearance on "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" that the franchise is very confident it will get the superstar to sign on the dotted line soon. 'It's gonna be early August. He's extension eligible Aug. 2. I think they're really confident, Colin. I think they've been in contact with him early in the summer about their plans for the organization. I think when they made the deal to get him, I think they were confident that they would be able to secure him in the long term. There are things about Los Angeles to not like. Nobody likes the traffic here and stuff like this. But the one thing we know about Luka Doncic is, well two things we know about him. One, he loves the big stage, and it's a huge stage. What's a bigger stage than playing at in front of those stars? And I think the second part of it is like, this is like a guy that doesn't necessarily love being famous. And you might think Los Angeles, well it's full of famous people. You can move pretty anonymously as a famous person in Los Angeles should you choose because there's always someone else famous in your circle and stuff like that. I think he's really comfortable there. I'm pretty sure the Lakers are gonna be able to secure an extension, it's just kind of a matter of for how long.' Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists a game and shot 37.9% from 3-point range in 28 regular-season games with L.A. after being traded there on Feb. 1. He has gotten himself into better shape this offseason after facing lots of criticism for his lack of fitness and conditioning, and Woike reported that the superstar has been "Incredibly committed" to his conditioning and diet. This new dedication could result in an enhanced version of Doncic moving forward, and the Lakers could reap the benefits as long as they get him to agree to some sort of extension soon.
