The Los Angeles Lakers’ brutal first-round 2025 NBA Playoff elimination at the hands of Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves sent the storied franchise back to the drawing board to prepare for next season.
Though the group led by Luka Dončić and LeBron James failed to win more than one postseason contest, the organization could be viewed as the ultimate winner of the 2024-25 campaign, as recent updates have suggested that the 26-year-old phenom Dončić is completely invested in the team’s future.
After experiencing his first taste of playing in Los Angeles, the 5-time First Team All-NBA selection and generational talent will be eligible to ink a long-term contract extension this summer.
With Los Angeles feeling a renewed sense of security after acquiring their next franchise cornerstone, new reports indicate that general manager Rob Pelinka should be aggressive in his pursuit of complementary pieces to support Dončić moving forward.
“Expectations don’t always come to fruition, obviously, but this is still a promising development for the Purple and Gold,” Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wrote Friday.
“It means—or at the very least indicates—that Dončić, a 26-year-old who’s already shown world-class talent—will be around for the long haul so long as he’s confident in the direction of this club.”
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“Basically, the Lakers have an opportunity to punctuate a productive offseason by securing their future with one of the best players on the planet.”
“They just need to make the kind of moves that gains that confidence.”
“And with over $40 million in expiring contracts, a potentially coveted future first-round pick (2031 or 2032) and a first-round pick swap (2030) at their disposal, they should have the tools to attack some of the deficiencies in this roster.”
The Lakers’ glaring lack of frontcourt talent should be the first area of the roster that Pelinka looks to improve, as Dončić has thrived in years past when sharing the floor with a solid screen-setter and leaping big man as a pick-and-roll partner. A shot-blocking, lob-finishing center will likely be their top priority when scouring both the trade market and pool of available free agents.
James’ intentions are still unclear, as the 40-year-old would be heading into his 23rd NBA season if he were to return in 2025-26. With the future Hall of Fame inductee possibly joining the Lakers for another year, a rim-running big would also fit perfectly alongside the all-time great playmaker.
If Los Angeles makes the necessary adjustments to aid the superstar duo, they could be set up for title contention in both the present and post-James future, with Dončić possibly leading the way for the next decade-plus.
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