In just over two weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers will be able to offer Luka Doncic a new contract. Although it is assumed that the Slovenian will extend his contract with Los Angeles in the long term, the Lakers are apparently a little “stressed.”
This is according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, who said that the Lakers are “a little stressed” about the upcoming negotiations for a new contract for Doncic.
However, the journalist also stated that this is normal. “This happens when a player is about to get his second maximum contract. That’s when players sometimes leave the team or aren’t worth the contract. (…) If Luka signs, the Lakers can breathe easy, but if he doesn’t, we’ll see teams positioning themselves to chase Luka.”
Does Doncic want a short contract?
Starting August 2, the Lakers can offer Doncic a four-year, $229 million contract extension, but according to Windhorst, there is no guarantee that the Slovenian will agree to it. John Hollinger (The Athletic) recently noted that Doncic may be more interested in a shorter extension, as he would earn more in the long run.
Doncic currently has a contract with the Lakers until 2027, but the point guard has a player option for the final season. Since being traded from the Dallas Mavericks, Doncic has played 28 games for the Lakers, averaging 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists.
