The Los Angeles Lakers are “on the clock” with superstar Luka Dončić, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.
Woike, who covers LAL daily, believes Dončić “could have a wandering eye” if the Lakers “can’t deliver on the plans they presented last summer.”
“He’s under contract with the Lakers for two more seasons with a player option in the third,” Woike wrote. “Before the 2028 season, he’s eligible for a mega contract that could be worth more than $417 million. That’s a lot of money to walk away from, but I think there’s an actual threat that he could have a wandering eye if the Lakers can’t deliver on the plans they presented last summer.
“How the Lakers handle this summer, how their decisions play out, how they’re reacted to by Dončić could have ripples for years inside the organization and around the league. The Lakers don’t have to solve all their roster issues in one transaction period — but they have to start finding the answers.”
The Lakers acquired Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks in February 2025. LAL lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs and fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of this year’s playoffs.
Dončić missed the entire 2026 playoffs with a serious hamstring injury. The All-Star led the NBA in total points and points per game in his first full season with the Lakers. He averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists per contest.
LeBron James led the Lakers to a first-round playoff series win against the Houston Rockets this year. Without Dončić, though, LAL was swept by Oklahoma City in the second round.
A source close to Dončić told ESPN that Luka has kept in touch with LeBron and Austin Reaves since the season ended. However, Dončić hasn’t pitched either player on returning to the Lakers.
LeBron, 41, is a free agent for the first time since 2018, while Reaves will become a free agent once he declines his player option for next season.
While anything can happen in today’s NBA, LeBron and Reaves are widely expected to re-sign with the Lakers.
ESPN also reported that Dončić told the Lakers that he wants an “A-list” center. There are several restricted free agents LAL has already done its due diligence on, including Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren and Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler.
Dončić is averaging 31.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game with the Lakers in the regular season and 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the playoffs. He’s still searching for his first NBA championship.
