Lakers Plan Around Luka Dončić's $160.4 Million Deal, Want LeBron James and Austin Reaves Back
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · May 12
Lakers Plan Around Luka Dončić's $160.4 Million Deal, Want LeBron James and Austin Reaves Back
11 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · May 12
Rob Pelinka said the Lakers will shape their offseason roster moves around Luka Dončić after their playoff exit, calling the star the franchise's leader for the future.
Dončić is entering year one of a three-year, $160.4 million contract, and Pelinka said the team is in constant contact with him and his camp on roster fit without ceding front-office control.
LeBron James, 41, has not decided whether to play a 24th NBA season, and Pelinka said the Lakers will give the pending free agent time while making clear they want him back.
Austin Reaves also remains a priority after back-to-back breakout seasons; Pelinka said the guard wants to stay despite holding a player option and being due a raise from his $13.5 million average salary.
The Lakers' stance sets up an offseason centered on keeping the Dončić-James-Reaves core that helped secure the West's No. 4 seed before the Game 4 elimination by Oklahoma City.
Will the Lakers' massive front office and facility overhaul fix the deep roster flaws exposed in the playoffs?
As LeBron's price tag nears $50M, can the Lakers re-sign him and Reaves without sacrificing a title roster for Luka?