As one fire gets put out, another one sparks right up in Lakerland. LeBron James signs an extension? That should be a win, but instead it becomes the juiciest stalking horse story of the year. Deandre Ayton arrives to bolster the frontcourt? Cue Rob Pelinka catching strays for quietly nudging Dorian Finney-Smith out the door. For a team still far from polished, you’d think the focus would be on basketball. But nope—the spotlight’s back on Luka Doncic. Will he commit long-term? Or will the Lakers end up writing love letters trying to justify why he should stay loyal?
Luka “The Don” Dončić swaggered into LA just minutes ago, and he’s already making waves. In his Lakers debut, he posted 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists across 24 minutes in a 132–113 blowout of Utah—definitely a taste of what’s to come. He’s averaging around 27.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 7.8 APG so far in Laker purple and gold.
But hold up: that mega-extension isn’t locked in yet. Luka becomes eligible in August, and while the Lakers are keen, he can’t get that super-max after his midseason trade. There’s talk of either a shorter deal now or betting on a bigger payday later. Whatever he chooses, Lakers owners—and fans—better be ready, because Los Angeles just got serious.
“If I’m Luka, I would wait out for that $400 million opportunity in 2028. Because the other thing that that comes into play here is that once he stays, I believe it’s four years with a team and 10 years, he can get a no trade clause. That no-trade clause, think is the most important thing that he’s trying to get. And I think that he will stay with the Lakers long-term. I think he’s so far we’ve seen him and JJ Redick get along very well. So we’ll see what it do,” said Dan Titus on Yahoo Sports!
They’re talking big numbers—$400 million is the rumor circulating for Luka’s extension. If L.A. can actually pull that off, Rob Pelinka might dodge the Nico Harrison curse. No one in their right mind wants to trade Luka at this stage. But even with stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic locked in, the Lakers still need serious upgrades.
Andrew Wiggins doesn’t need the spotlight—he just gets buckets and clamps up. That’s exactly what Luka Doncic needs right now. Wiggins thrives off the ball, cuts like a ninja, and finishes strong—perfect for Luka’s pass-first magic. He guards top scorers too. The Lakers lacked that kind of wing stopper all year. Wiggins fills that hole with ease, no drama included. He can knock down corner threes, run the floor, and keep things smooth when Luka or LeBron rests. And best of all? He’s been there before. Championship pedigree, defensive edge, and zero ego—Wiggins could be the quiet fix.
“If you can get someone again, another defensive minded wing with some offensive capabilities, I think you’re kind of looking at what the team will look like headed into training camp. Barring, you know, a trade that can be put together. Obviously I reported around the draft that there were some talks with Miami about Andrew Wiggins. Hey, if you get them for the right price, he’s a former champ. And we know that he has, when he’s motivated, a guy who’s looked pretty damn good in this league,” said Dave McMenamin on ESPN.
