Luka Doncic is spending the summer in Slovenia but remains in regular contact with Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Sources told ESPN that Doncic has also spoken with LeBron James and Austin Reaves since the season ended. However, the All-NBA guard is not actively recruiting either player to re-sign and has taken only a limited role in the club’s offseason planning. He has, though, conveyed one clear request to Pelinka and Redick: the addition of an “A-list” center.
Frontcourt Upgrade Tops Wish List
The Lakers have performed background work on restricted free-agent centers Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons) and Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz), McMenamin reports. Los Angeles has also checked on non-center RFAs Peyton Watson (Denver Nuggets) and Tari Eason (Houston Rockets). While the club could create cap room for an offer sheet, tying up space at the start of the 2026-27 league year could be costly, making sign-and-trade scenarios a more practical path.
Key Free Agents
Beyond their interest in retaining James and Reaves, the Lakers hope to re-sign unrestricted free agent Luke Kennard and guard Marcus Smart, who is expected to decline a $5.4 million player option. Both players have mutual interest in returning. Several league sources told ESPN that forward Rui Hachimura might be the odd man out, though operating over the salary cap would give Los Angeles a chance to keep all of its free agents and still use the mid-level exception on an outside target.
James Weighing Future After Vacation
James is overseas with his family and plans to meet former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates to mark the 10-year anniversary of their 2016 championship. He is not expected to focus on his contract decision until that trip ends, yet the prevailing belief is that he will stay in Los Angeles. ESPN’s Marc J. Spears echoed that sentiment on Wednesday’s NBA Today, adding that James’s longtime friend and ex-teammate Kevin Love is a candidate to join the Lakers.
Doncic Cleared for Full Workouts
Doncic, sidelined for the playoffs by a Grade 2 hamstring strain, was cleared for basketball activities on May 28 and is now “full go,” a source told ESPN. The guard expects the Lakers to leverage their cap flexibility this summer to assemble a championship roster. “Luka wants to be a championship team yesterday,” a source close to him said, noting the organization had targeted the summer of 2026 as a key moment for roster upgrades.
Source: HoopsRumors
