The Los Angeles Lakers' future looks more clear after the team inked Luka Doncic to a maximum three-year, $165 million contract extension Saturday which keeps the star guard with the team through at least the 2028 season. He also gets a player option for the 2028-29 season where he could opt out to sign another max deal worth over $400 million.
Doncic's new long-term deal comes six months after L.A. shockingly traded for him with the Dallas Mavericks to become the franchise's star of the future. The timing of the acquisition and following extension comes toward the end of LeBron James's extraordinary NBA career. James opted into his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers for next season and mentioned he would be "closely monitoring" L.A.'s offseason amid his desire to compete for a championship in his final seasons.
After getting ousted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games during the first round of the playoffs last season, James wishes to compete for a title and with the Lakers building for both the future and present, it's not a given that will be in L.A. After Doncic's three-year max extension was announced Saturday, Lakers general manager and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka made his preference clear on James's future with the team.
"If he had a chance to retire a Laker, that would be great," Pelinka said via ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
With James picking up his player option for next season, he will remain a Laker for the time being. He could request a trade if he chooses which would most likely only happen if he doesn't see that the Lakers have a realistic chance to compete for a championship immediately. After next season, though, he becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign wherever he chooses, whether that's with the Lakers or another contender.
As the 40-year-old reaches his final NBA seasons, Pelinka hopes James sees the vision for the immediate with Doncic locked down for the long haul.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Rob Pelinka Didn't Mince Words on LeBron James's Future After Luka Doncic Extension.
