Los Angeles Lakers superstar guard Luka Doncic becomes eligible to sign a contract extension on August 2. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the entire league “is watching closely” as Doncic, on an expiring contract, would be making a big statement by committing to the Purple and Gold franchise.
One of Doncic’s longtime teammates, Markieff Morris, offered an update on whether the Slovenian would put pen to paper or become a free agent in 2026. On the June 19 episode of ESPN’s “Get Up,” Morris said that Doncic proved his commitment to the franchise by making positive comments about the team’s new ownership group.
“Luka’s the kind of guy who, once he’s bought in, he’s all the way bought in,” Morris said. “I think ultimately, Luka does re-sign, whether it’s two years or four years. Ultimately, I think he’ll be there.”
Luka Doncic Contract Options
In his tweet, Doncic gave his stamp of approval to new Lakers owner Mark Walter by stressing that he was looking forward to winning “championships” with the franchise. Morris felt the tweet was a strong indicator of Doncic donning the Purple and Gold colors for the foreseeable future.
“He’s checking the boxes,” Morris said of Doncic. “He’s letting the fans know, the organization know that he’s excited about coming back next year and for years to come. It shows that he’s bought in and ready to win. It’s exciting when your best player tweets about the excitement about [the new ownership group].
Doncic has three different contract options he could pursue after August 2.
He could either sign a four-year extension worth $229 million or wait until the summer of 2026 and sign a 5-year, $295 million deal as an unrestricted free agent.
The third option, which ESPN’s Bobby Marks predicts, entails Doncic signing a three-year, $165 million deal and sign a bigger contract in 2029.
Lakers Have A Busy Offseason
“More likely: a three-year, $165 million extension that includes a player option in the third year. The short-term extension allows Doncic to reenter free agency sooner and potentially recoup the $345 million he lost when he was traded from the Mavericks,” Marks wrote in his offseason guide for the Lakers.
Ahead of the Doncic extension, the Lakers are expected to make several roster tweaks to improve the roster, specifically looking to add frontcourt depth.
According to Clutch Points’ Anthony Irwin, the Lakers are looking to trade for a starting-quality center, and use their taxpayer midlevel exception (projected at $5.7M) to recruit a backup big.
“Sources close to the team reiterated that the internal plan is to trade for their starting center – sources say they’ve held conversations with other teams about Nic Claxton, Robert Williams, Walker Kessler and others – then, ideally, use the taxpayer midlevel on his backup – Brook Lopez and Clint Capela are the two names most often linked to the Lakers,” Iwin wrote on June 17.
According to several insiders, the Lakers could be willing to part with one or two draft picks to land a quality big. The lack of size was a big problem for the Lakers during the 2025 playoffs.
