The Los Angeles Lakers have softened their long-standing resistance to adding contracts that extend past the 2025-26 season after Luka Doncic committed to the franchise with a new deal, team and league sources told The Athletic.
Doncic signed a three-year extension on Aug. 2, 2025 at the UCLA Health Training Center in Los Angeles, locking him in through the 2027-28 campaign with a player option for the summer of 2028. Before the agreement, the 26-year-old guard could have reached unrestricted free agency in 2026, prompting club officials to preserve future cap flexibility.
According to the report, the Lakers are now more open to accepting long-term money in potential trades as they look to upgrade the current roster. The shift marks a departure from their summer approach, when the front office prioritized short-term and expiring contracts.
Doncic’s dominant showing at FIBA EuroBasket 2025—where a slimmed-down version of the All-NBA star carried Slovenia to the quarterfinals—also reinforced internal belief that the organization should capitalize on its immediate championship window. The guard averaged 39 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in the tournament exit against Germany, later saying he was “angry” about the loss but proud of his teammates.
This week’s development is the second indication that Los Angeles is willing to take on longer deals; forward Andrew Wiggins, currently with the Miami Heat, has been mentioned as one possible trade target.
The Lakers have operated cautiously since the 2021 trade for Russell Westbrook, which limited roster flexibility for multiple seasons. While executives remain mindful of avoiding similar pitfalls, Doncic’s multi-year commitment has given the front office additional confidence to explore more aggressive roster moves.
Source: LakersNation.com
