Lakers Hold Private Meeting With Luka Doncic as Contract Rumors Swirl
May 4, 2025
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With the team’s 2024-25 season in the rearview mirror far too soon, two key architects of the Los Angeles Lakers’ future were seen meeting with five-time All-NBA First Team superstar guard Luka Doncic recently.
Los Angeles fell in just five games to the underdog Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The Lakers have been eliminated from the playoffs.
The Timberwolves will face the winner of the ongoing clash between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets, currently knotted at 3-3.
Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a three-point basket in the second half against the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on March 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a three-point basket in the second half against the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on March 06, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Meg Oliphant
The result serves as a far cry from Doncic’s playoff success last year with the Dallas Mavericks. Alongside fellow future Hall of Famer Kyrie Irving, Western Conference Finals MVP Doncic advanced all the way to the 2024 NBA Finals.
First-year head coach JJ Redick, recently extended team president Rob Pelinka, and Doncic recently dined at Craig’s, an American cuisine hot spot in West Hollywood.
JJ Redick, Luka Doncic, and Rob Pelinka were seen leaving ‘Craig’s’ in LA last night.
Doncic will have an active summer ahead of him, as Redick and Pelinka are well aware.
After suiting up for his native Team Slovenia in this year’s EuroBasket competition, the 6-foot-6 guard faces a big contract decision, according to Jovan Buha and Sam Amick of The Athletic.
As Buha and Amick detail, there are several routes Doncic can take to determine his NBA playing future. He could decide to see his current deal through — Doncic has a $49 million player option for the 2026-27 season. Doncic could pick up the option or, more lucratively, decline it and re-sign a five-season, $296 million agreement to stay in Los Angeles. Should he want to play for another franchise, he could sign a four-year, $219 million as an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2026.
Doncic could also take care of his long-term security, and agree to a four-season, $229 million contract extension on Aug. 2.
If he wanted to make a bit more money sooner, he could also agree to a three-season, $165 million deal, with a 2028-29 player option. With 10 NBA seasons under his belt at that point, Doncic would be able to ink a new contract worth 35 percent of the league’s salary cap. He could decline the option and agree to a five-season, $418 million deal.
More Los Angeles Lakers News: Lakers’ Luka Doncic Shredded Over Major Postseason Struggle
Sources inform The Athletic that Los Angeles is open to any deal Doncic wants to sign.
Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Doncic’s new 21-time All-Star teammate, power forward LeBron James, has declared publicly that he will not attempt to unduly influence Doncic’s contract decision this summer.
“No, that ain’t my job,” James said. “I think… I don’t think, I know, Luka knows how I feel about him. And ultimately, that trade happened for the future. That’s not for me. Luka has to decide what he has to do with his future. He’s [26] years old, I’m 40, so he can’t be basing his career off me. That’s just real.”
More Los Angeles Lakers News: Lakers’ Luka Doncic Pays Entire GoFundMe to Restore Kobe and Gianna Bryant Mural
James has a $52.6 million player option for 2025-26, which would represent a record-extending 23rd pro season. The four-time league MVP knows that his time in the NBA is running out, while Doncic has likely a decade of All-Star appearances ahead of him.
“But I hope, obviously, [he stays long term],” James added. “Laker fans f—ing love him here. L.A. has accepted him. We love him as a teammate, as a brother. But ultimately, he’s got to make a decision for him. S—, I ain’t going to be around much longer.”
More Los Angeles Lakers News:
Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert Joins Shaq, Kareem in Epic NBA Playoff History
LeBron James Noncommittal on Playing Future Following Shocking Lakers Playoff Exit
Lakers Have Major LeBron James Problem Heading Into Offseason
LeBron James Podcast Lands Steve Nash Major Broadcast Deal
For more Los Angeles Lakers and general NBA news and rumors, stay tuned to Newsweek Sports.
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