One NBA insider thinks Luka Doncic re-signing with the LA Lakers is a warning to them rather than a guarantee.
The Los Angeles Lakers have made some really strong moves this offseason. It’s clear that the team is trying to get better ahead of the new season.
They didn’t start the offseason well, as Rob Pelinka’s poor negotiations cost the Lakers Dorian Finney-Smith. The two-way forward joined the Rockets in free agency.
But the President of Basketball Operations bounced back quite quickly, as he brought Jake LaRavia and Deandre Ayton to the Lakers.
Thanks to some help from Luka Doncic, the Lakers signed Marcus Smart as well. And to top it all off, the Lakers also landed Warriors’ Summer League standout Chris Manon.
But these signings weren’t just needed to improve the roster. As one NBA insider put it, these signings may be crucial to keeping a hold of Luka Doncic.
ESPN’s LA Lakers beat reporter Dave McMenamin appeared on NBA Today to discuss Luka Doncic’s future with the team.
He believes that Doncic’s eventual contract extension with the Lakers is a message to the team. The message is simple – ‘I expect to compete for a championship going forward.’
“This isn’t signing away to the Lakers and saying, ’OK, you have my commitment and I’ll have some patience here. It’s ‘I want to win this year, I want to win the subsequent year.
“So long as my name is signed to a piece of paper saying I am a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, I expect to be in a position to raise banners at the Crypto.com Arena.’”
Even though Luka Doncic hasn’t signed a new LA Lakers contract just yet, all signs are pointing to him sticking around in Los Angeles for the near future.
Doncic’s recruitment drive is the biggest indicator of his Lakers future. But this drive from Doncic presents a bit of a double-edged sword for the Lakers.
The team now has no excuses to flounder next season and must be active in the title hunt. Their roster isn’t perfect compared to some heavy hitters in the West.
But when you have Luka Doncic and LeBron James playing at the highest level possible, that is almost like having an extra man on the court.
The Lakers must ensure they give it their all next season and make a genuine push for the NBA championship to keep Doncic happy.
