How could the Lakers do a deal for Luka Doncic to replace LeBron James?

The Los Angeles Lakers have set their sights on acquiring the Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic to lead the team after veteran superstar LeBron James, according to journalist Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.

When could the Lakers move for Doncic?

O’Connor has tipped the Californian franchise to make their move for the Slovenian next summer if James, who will be approaching his 41st birthday, doesn’t exercise his $52.2 million player option. If he does, then Doncic’s potential arrival is Los Angeles could be pushed back to 2026, when LeBron’s current contract expires. Assuming, that is, the forward ends his glittering career at that point.

Of course, turning such a dream into a reality isn’t always that simple. Any move for a player of Doncic’s calibre would be extremely complex, and costly.

Doncic’s current and future contract with the Mavericks

The 25-year-old signed a $215 million, five-year contract in 2022, which ties him to the Mavs until 2026 at a minimum. That extends to 2027 if he exercises his $48.9 million player option.

Those figures would not necessarily cause the Lakers an issue. What is rather more problematic, though, is that Doncic is said to be close to agreeing the most lucrative NBA contract in history with his current team. In the summer of 2025, the guard could sign a $346 million, five-year deal, an average of $69 million per season, although that number will surpass $70 million in some of them. An astronomical amount of money that only the Mavericks can pay under the new collective agreement.

How the Lakers could tempt Doncic to leave the Mavericks

How, then, could the Lakers persuade Doncic to swap Dallas for Los Angeles? It’s hard to imagine the former Real Madrid player giving up the sums mentioned. However, there would be the possibility of the two franchises coming to a blockbuster trade agreement, after he has signed his eye-watering contract.

James’ retirement would free up plenty of salary cap space and the Lakers could offer the Mavs a whole host of draft picks up until 2031. At present, the Californians have five first-round and five second-round picks they have been saving up for a rainy day. “The Lakers, by not trading their future picks, are clearly still thinking long-term right now,” claims O’Connor, who remains sceptical about whether they would give up so many trades for one player.

History could also work in the Lakers favour. Only the Boston Celtics have more that their 17 NBA championships. Doncic would be given the chance to follow the legacies of legendary stars such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and, of course, LeBron James.

Mavs outperform Lakers in 2023/24 NBA season

The Los Angeles franchise have consistently shown their ability to reinvent themselves quickly and fight for the NBA championship when it seemed as if they were set for a lean spell.

That said, the Mavericks proved themselves to be the better team in the 2023/24 NBA season, losing in the Finals to the Celtics, while the Lakers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Denver Nuggets.

A trend the Californians will surely have to reverse in the upcoming season or two if they are to have any chance of getting the outstanding Doncic as their new leader for the future.