The Los Angeles Lakers are already planning for life after LeBron James.
Preparing for the Future
LeBron will turn 40 this season, and it’s clear his career is nearing its end. Rob Pelinka and the Lakers’ front office have started discussing how to move forward once LeBron retires. According to Kevin O’Connor from The Ringer, Luka Doncic is their top choice to lead the team in the future. At just 25 years old, Doncic could be a star player for the Lakers for many years.
“I’ve reported on this podcast and on The Ringer how they have their sights set for Luka in the future,” O’Connor mentioned during an episode of The Mismatch. “We’ll see if that works out. Dallas just made a Finals, Dallas is looking better than ever with their supporting cast. That may not work out, but the Lakers by not trading their future picks clearly are still thinking long-term at this point. They’re not going all in like you might expect many teams to do with James.”
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Challenges Ahead
It’s very unlikely that the Mavericks would trade Doncic unless he demands it himself. So, Los Angeles’s best chance might be during free agency.
Doncic has three years left on his five-year $215 million deal, with a player option in the final season (2026). If LeBron plays two more seasons, this timing could be perfect for Pelinka to replace him seamlessly.
Fans think it would be amazing if Luka joined the Lakers!
However, it’s probable that Dallas will try hard to keep Doncic from hitting free agency. But they can’t make him re-sign if he believes joining the Lakers offers better long-term success.
The Ideal Replacement
Los Angeles knows James will retire sooner or later and sees Doncic as an ideal replacement. Still, bringing such an elite talent to LA won’t be easy; Pelinka would need help from Doncic forcing Dallas’s hand.
