The Los Angeles Lakers kept a low profile at the 2026 NBA trade deadline, and team star Luka Doncic is reportedly on board with that decision.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, a source familiar with Doncic’s thinking said the 26-year-old guard supported the front office’s disciplined, long-term approach. General manager Rob Pelinka opted against major additions, preserving roughly $48.5 million in salary-cap space for the 2026 offseason.
Pelinka has emphasized flexibility since the 2025 offseason, aiming to construct a roster built around Doncic once LeBron James and Anthony Davis are no longer the franchise’s focal points. Doncic’s approval of the plan likely contributed to his signing a three-year contract extension on the first day he was eligible last summer.
The Lakers’ restraint increases pressure to capitalize on their cap room this summer. Internally, the organization believes it could make a competitive bid for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo if he becomes available, leveraging both cap space and multiple future draft picks.
For now, the Lakers remain committed to their wait-and-see strategy, confident that Doncic’s endorsement gives them the runway needed to reshape the roster when the market opens in July.
Source: Lakers Nation
