In reality, this was the expectation.
But until the deal was actually done, no one knew for sure what Luka Doncic was going to do.
He was eligible, as of Saturday, to sign a four-year contract extension worth $222.4 million. But that’s not what he did.
Instead, per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Doncic signed a three-year, $165 million deal with the Lakers that has a player option in 2028.
The key to this deal is what comes next: a potential $417 million windfall in 2028.
How does that work?
Doncic will complete his 10th NBA season in 2027-28. That makes him eligible for a supermax extension worth 35% of the salary cap, rather than 30% after nine seasons.
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The cap isn’t set in stone that far in advance, but Charania did the estimate.
That gets Doncic a five-year, $417 million deal in the 2028 offseason.
Of course, also of note for the Lakers is that they’re the only team that could pay Doncic that. The CBA benefits the teams that already have a player.
That makes his current extension key, too, because it means the Lakers will get that opportunity to then give Luka the massive payday in three years time.
It’s a good day for Doncic, and for the purple and gold.
His future is in Los Angeles, and it’s lined up to include a whole heck of a lot of money.
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