The NBA has hit its quietest period of the calendar. The Finals are long gone, free agency has mostly ended, and Las Vegas Summer League is in the rearview mirror. One major deal could happen this weekend, however, between the Lakers and Luka Dončić.
The five-time All-Star, who was traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers in February in one of the most shocking deals in pro sports history, will be eligible to sign a four-year, $229 million extension starting Saturday. Dončić has two years, $95 million remaining on his current deal, but he has a player option for the 2026–27 season.
Asked about his potential extension Tuesday on the Today show, Dončić played dumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I can’t discuss anything yet,” Dončić said, grinning.
The 26-year-old has expressed the importance of franchise loyalty multiple times. When asked by ESPN’s Malika Andrews in April whether his loyalty had transferred to the Lakers following the trade, Dončić said: “Of course.”
While the trade took an emotional toll on the Slovenian star, who was in tears while a tribute video played for him during his April return to Dallas, it also reduced his earning potential. Dončić would have been eligible to sign a five-year, $345 million extension with the Mavericks this offseason.
The deal would have one extra year and an average annual value of $69 million, which is $11.75 million more than the contract he’s eligible to sign with the Lakers starting Saturday.
Dončić was also eligible to sign a three-year, $160 million extension immediately after the NBA Finals concluded in mid-June. This would’ve given him the option to re-enter free agency earlier and sign a larger deal then, but the average annual value would have been only $53.3 million. It is very possible that any deal he signs may include a player option like his current one does, giving him the ability to reset his contract status sooner.
