Lakers Confident in Luka Doncic Signing Massive Long-Term Extension: Report

The Lakers are confident they can lock up their new face of the franchise.

Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) moves the ball up court against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Lakers made the decision to trade for Luka Doncic a couple of weeks before the trade deadline. It was a move that any other organization would have made if given the chance.

Doncic will become the face of the franchise once LeBron James retires. The Lakers have to move forward with Doncic as their best player, but Doncic also has to want to be in Los Angeles.

The Lakers are hoping to give Doncic a long-term contract extension. That's something that Doncic is not interested in doing at this moment, but the Lakers aren't worried.

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Los Angeles still feels confident that they are going to be able to reach an agreement on a long-term deal. The Lakers believe he will stay based on his recent actions, according to The Athletic.

Doncic has been a recruiter for the Lakers during free agency this offseason. He was a key guy when it came to the signings of both Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart.

It stands to reason that Doncic wouldn't be trying to bring those guys to Los Angeles if he wasn't going to also be there. The Lakers are trying their best to give what Doncic wants.

It's highly likely that Doncic will end up signing an extension with the Lakers. When that will be, however, is unclear. The Lakers wouldn't have traded for him if they weren't expecting to be able to bring him back on an extension.

Doncic is the best player for the Lakers already, but he hasn't even hit his prime yet. He has focused on getting in shape this offseason so that he can perform better late in the season.

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The Lakers are setting up their team to pay Doncic whatever he wants and surround him with whatever teammates he wants. Once James leaves in the next couple of seasons, Doncic is going to be the only star player they have.

James may not like how quickly the Lakers are moving towards the Doncic era, but it makes the most sense for their timeline to do so.

After being traded to the Lakers this past season, Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game.

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