This offseason, the Los Angeles Lakers extended LeBron James with a two-year, $104 million contract, which includes a player option for the 2025-26 season and a no-trade clause. While retaining James was crucial for the Lakers, they now face decisions regarding their other star player, Anthony Davis.
Davis is in line for a more lucrative deal than James due to the longer duration of his potential contract. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report forecasts that Davis might sign a three-year, $212.2 million contract.
Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets will earn slightly more at $59 million and $62.84 million. All three players could opt out of their contract options and extend their deals next summer for three additional seasons, starting at $65.5 million per season, totaling $212.2 million.
Pincus also pointed out that if Davis waits until the 2026-27 season to extend his contract, it could increase to $293.4 million over four years, subject to the Over-38 Rule.
Looking ahead to the 2027-28 season, the Lakers might face a different scenario with an aging LeBron James potentially retiring. While it makes sense to keep Davis given his talent, the Lakers might be hesitant to commit $212.2 million to him if they are entering a rebuilding phase.
However, the Lakers have a history of attracting high-profile free agents. When James retires, they could be in a strong position to pursue the next star player available.
One such star they are reportedly interested in is Luka Dončić. Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer mentioned on “The Mismatch” podcast that the Lakers have their sights set on Dončić. O’Connor stated in August, “We’ll see if that works out. Dallas just made a Finals, and their supporting cast is looking strong.
