Following their first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers face a potentially expensive offseason, marked by significant contract decisions.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks highlighted the financial considerations for the Lakers, noting that in addition to LeBron James’ $52.6 million player option. Ultimately, James’s contract is only a factor if he continues playing basketball. A prospect called into question with his post-game comments.
“I don’t know,” James said. “I don’t have an answer to that. Something I’ll sit down with my family, my wife and my support group and kind of just talk through it and see what happens. And just have a conversation with myself on how long I want to continue to play. I don’t know the answer to that right now, to be honest. So we’ll see.”
“Just continuing to play, I don’t know where I’m at,” James told ESPN. “That’s what that is. Not coming back to play here. Just playing, period.”
Los Angeles Lakers Must Address Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves’ Contracts This Summer
Regardless of LeBron’s decision, the team must also address Luka Doncic’s contract situation. “Doncic is not a free agent but is eligible to sign up to a four-year, $229 million extension on Aug. 2,” Marks wrote. “In the unlikely scenario a contract is not reached, Doncic will become a free agent in the summer of 2026.” Marks also pointed out that guard Austin Reaves is eligible for an extension this summer and could become a free agent next offseason if an agreement is not reached.
The Lakers’ acquisition of Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks was aimed at bolstering their championship aspirations alongside James. However, despite securing the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, the team’s roster construction proved insufficient against the deeper Timberwolves, resulting in a first-round upset.
Doncic, while battling an illness during the postseason, led the Lakers in scoring, averaging 30.2 points over the five-game series. Nevertheless, his 5.8 assists per game represented a career low for him in the playoffs.
Despite the disappointing end to the season, a long-term commitment to Doncic appears to be a near certainty. As the 26-year-old is widely expected to become the franchise’s centerpiece upon James’s eventual retirement, the Lakers are poised to build their future around him.