The reason why Luka Doncic signed a shorter contract with the Los Angeles Lakers

The signing of Luka Doncic by the Los Angeles Lakers has generated a lot of attention, especially due to the duration and structure of the contract he has signed. According to Bobby Marks, an insider at the NBA office for ESPN, the maximum contract the Lakers could have offered Doncic was a four-year deal for $229 million. However, Doncic chose to sign an extension for 2 guaranteed years plus 1 optional, which has surprised many, especially because he left more than $64 million in guaranteed money on the table.

The key to understanding this decision lies in the flexibility and the potential long-term gains. Although Doncic missed out on the opportunity to sign a five-year supermax deal worth $345 million in Dallas—taking into account the difference in state taxes between California and Texas—his new contract with the Lakers allows him to become an unrestricted free agent in 2028 or 2029, by which time he will already have a decade in the league.

According to Bobby Marks' projections, estimating a 10% annual increase in the salary cap, Doncic will have an opportunity to sign a much more lucrative contract in a few years. In the summer of 2027, the Lakers will be able to renegotiate his contract and offer him an extension for four years and $323 million.

But there's more. If Doncic completes the two guaranteed years of the extension and decides not to exercise his option for the 2028-29 season, he could sign a five-year contract for around $418 million at 29 years old. This deal could make him the first player in NBA history to earn $80 million in a season, which is equivalent to about a million dollars per game, an impressive figure that reflects his status as the face of a franchise valued at $10 billion.

The last year of that potential contract would be close to $95 million, a nine-figure salary confirming the financial commitment the Lakers are making in Doncic, not just as a player but as the centerpiece of their future project.

In summary, signing a shorter contract with an extension option allows Doncic to maximize his future earnings, maintaining control over his career and market value, instead of securing a large sum of immediate but potentially limited money.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La razón por la que Luka Doncic firmó un contrato más corto con Los Angeles Lakers