Latest news with #Doncic
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
ESPN insider expects Lakers to be 'extremely aggressive' this summer
ESPN insider expects Lakers to be 'extremely aggressive' this summer This will be a key offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers as they continue to chase their 18th NBA championship. It could even be a fork in the road of sorts, as LeBron James is nearing the end of his career and Luka Doncic is nearing the start of his first full season with the team. In addition to needing a legitimate starting center, the Lakers need to address Doncic's contract situation. He can opt out of his current contract and become a free agent next summer, and he could have multiple options as far as what he can do moving forward. ESPN insider Bobby Marks made an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up" and said he expects the franchise to be "extremely aggressive" this summer. 'I expect them to be extremely aggressive this offseason, especially with LeBron [James] likely going into, you know, he's got one year left on his contract. I think there's three things here. You've gotta take advantage of the $60 million in expiring contracts, when you're looking at certainly players like Gabe Vincent and Rui Hachimura. The second thing is, they showed their hand at the trade deadline when they made that Mark Williams trade that wound up failing him on his physical. They are going to go out and get a center this offseason, we'll see how that goes, you've got one first-round pick to do that. And then the third thing is, keep an eye on Aug. 2. That is when Luka is eligible to sign that extension. So you're trying to build for the now, but I think you also have to have an eye for the future when eventually LeBron does retire here.' One incentive to be very aggressive that the Lakers have is their need to show Doncic that they're serious about helping him win his first world title. He got to the NBA Finals last year with the Dallas Mavericks, only to lose there in five games. He looked noticeably slimmer during a public appearance, and at least one report has indicated that he is changing his health regimen after being criticized for not keeping himself in shape. James has a $52.6 million player option for next season that he can decline in order to become a free agent and sign a slightly longer new deal, or to leave the Lakers, although most expect him to stay put. The deadline for him to make a decision on that option is June 29.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lakers' Stance on Potentially Trading Luka Doncic Revealed by NBA Analyst
Lakers' Stance on Potentially Trading Luka Doncic Revealed by NBA Analyst originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Dallas Mavericks shocked the sports world in February when they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Advertisement The blockbuster trade came out of nowhere, as no one knew Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison no longer wanted to build around Doncic, the 26-year-old superstar who has already made five All-NBA First Teams. Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists with the Lakers in the regular season after the Mavericks traded him. The future Hall of Famer then put up 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the 2025 playoffs. However, despite having Doncic and NBA legend LeBron James, the Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of this year's playoffs in five games. Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) looks on during a Johnson-Imagn Images Los Angeles may need to make some trades this offseason to become a true title contender. However, don't expect Doncic to be traded, writes Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report. Advertisement "In Doncic, the Lakers have a bridge to their post-James era. He'll be the superstar cornerstone upon which the franchise's next decade is built," Hughes wrote. "The only way that'll change is if Harrison's justification for moving Doncic this past February — poor conditioning and shoddy defense — reaches a point where Los Angeles winds up with the same concerns. "Of course, if you view the trade from Dallas to L.A. as a wake-up call for Doncic, it's pretty hard to imagine his bad habits continuing." Los Angeles can sign Doncic to a four-year, $229 million contract starting on Aug. 2. Doncic will make $46 million next season. He has a player option worth $48.9 million for the 2026-27 season. Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka told local reporters during his end-of-season press conference that he's looking forward to building around Doncic for the foreseeable future. Advertisement "It's incredibly exciting to have the promise of him in our next decade of Laker basketball with being able to build a team around him and him being at the center of our franchise," Pelinka said. "Our partnership with him has been incredible. We're appreciative and grateful and can't wait to get to the work, really starting today, of getting ready for next year." Related: Former LeBron James Teammate Delivers Verdict on GOAT Debate With Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Luka Doncic Predicted to Sign Short-Term Extension With Lakers
Luka Doncic Predicted to Sign Short-Term Extension With Lakers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Dallas Mavericks shocked the sports world in February when they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. The blockbuster deal paired Doncic with NBA legend LeBron James. Advertisement Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists with the Lakers in the regular season after the Mavericks traded him. The future Hall of Famer then put up 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the 2025 playoffs. Despite Doncic putting up stellar numbers, though, the Lakers lost to the Timberwolves in the first round in five games. The 26-year-old Doncic will make $45.9 million next season. The superstar is eligible to sign a contract extension with the Lakers after the 2025 NBA Finals conclude and ESPN's Bobby Marks expects that to happen. Los Angeles Lakers star Luka DoncicKevin Jairaj-Imagn Images It's worth mentioning, though, that Marks expects Doncic to sign a short-term extension with the Lakers instead of the four-year deal he's eligible to sign starting on August 2. Advertisement "A four-year, $229 million max, where the $51 million first-year salary for 2026-27 replaces the player option for that season," Marks wrote. "And, more likely: a three-year, $165 million extension that includes a player option in the third year. "The short-term extension would allow Doncic to reenter free agency sooner and potentially recoup the $345 million he lost when he was traded from the Mavericks. Doncic, for his part, confirmed to ESPN's Malika Andrews in an interview before the postseason that his intention is to remain with the Lakers. "But while there should be confidence in Doncic extending, showing him what a post-James roster could look like is a major priority. What to expect: Doncic signs a three-year, $165 million deal with a player option for 2028-29." Doncic has career averages of 28.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists with the Mavericks and Lakers. He has made five All-Star teams and five All-NBA teams. Related: Lakers' Stance on Potentially Trading Luka Doncic Revealed by NBA Analyst This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
Major trade idea gives the Lakers a defensive monster at center
Major trade idea gives the Lakers a defensive monster at center To make a baseball analogy, some people want the Los Angeles Lakers to swing for the fences and look to hit a home run rather than simply get a base hit single when it comes to pursuing a legitimate starting center this offseason. Names such as Nic Claxton, Daniel Gafford and even Jarrett Allen, who was named to the NBA All-Star Game three years ago, have been tossed around as possible targets. But one writer for ClutchPoints proposed a trade idea that would land the Lakers someone who has not only been an All-Star three times and the Defensive Player of the year four times, but also recently torched them in the playoffs. That's right — this trade idea would give the Purple and Gold none other than the French Rejection — otherwise known as Rudy Gobert. In this mock trade, they would give up guards Austin Reaves and Gabe Vincent and big man Maxi Kleber to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and they would also receive Josh Minott, a little-used 22-year-old small forward. Via ClutchPoints: "Doing business with the team that just bested them in the playoffs wouldn't be easy for the Lakers, but there might not be a better center option available, and LA needs to maximize LeBron James' time in the league alongside Doncic before he retires," wrote Bailey Bassett. "Gobert has notably declined, evidenced by a 1.4 block per game average this past season. That mark was tied for Gobert's worst since his rookie year. He is also incredibly limited on offense when it comes to his post-up game, ball-handling skills, and jump shot. "Even so, Gobert is still an elite defensive player. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year is still one of the best rim protectors in the NBA. Ultimately, the Lakers just need a big body who can take up space down low and collect rebounds." This would be a high-risk, high-reward trade for the Lakers — not too much unlike the 2022 trade that brought Minnesota Gobert for four serviceable role players and four future first-round draft picks. In addition to his vast offensive limitations, Gobert seems to have some difficulties playing effective defense on the perimeter, as Luka Doncic proved in this year's playoffs, as well as last year's Western Conference finals. But his career average of 11.7 rebounds a game would greatly help a Lakers team that lacks power on the boards. He would also be an excellent target for lob passes from Doncic. Ultimately, this may be a trade idea the Lakers would want to turn down, depending on the other options they may or may not have elsewhere. Reaves shouldn't be untouchable, but he shouldn't be traded for someone such as Gobert who has serious limitations in his game on both ends of the court.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Could the Lakers end up trading Luka Doncic?
The Los Angeles Lakers and their fans seemingly gained a new lease on life, especially when it came to contending for the NBA championship, when the organization landed generational superstar Luka Doncic in that stunning trade four months ago. While it hasn't paid dividends just yet, that trade was presumably made for the immediate future beginning next season rather than the 2024-25 campaign. But is it possible the Lakers will get buyer's remorse at some point? While Doncic has the potential to become one of the five to 10 greatest basketball players of all time, he hasn't exactly been in great shape, and many have criticized him for allegedly not taking good care of his body. Advertisement Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report listed Doncic as the team's most untouchable player in terms of trade talks in a recent article. But he did imply that there is a scenario in which L.A. may end up wanting to move on from the Slovenian wonder. Via Bleacher Report: "In Dončić, the Los Angeles Lakers have a bridge to their post-LeBron James era," Hughes wrote. "He'll be the superstar cornerstone upon which the franchise's next decade is built. "The only way that'll change is if [Nico] Harrison's justification for moving Dončić this past February—poor conditioning and shoddy defense—reaches a point where Los Angeles winds up with the same concerns. "Of course, if you view the trade from Dallas to L.A. as a wake-up call for Dončić, it's pretty hard to imagine his bad habits continuing." So far this offseason, it looks as if Doncic is already changing those bad habits. He looked noticeably slimmer at a recent Real Madrid game, and at least one report has indicated that he has at least changed his mindset as far as his fitness and conditioning. He has a player option for the 2026-27 season that he can decline in order to become a free agent next summer. But he did indicate in a recent interview that he would like to remain with the Purple and Gold long term. This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Could the Lakers end up trading Luka Doncic?
