$165$ million contract renewal for Doncic! The Lakers have entered a new era!

This news isn't surprising.

Doncic has officially signed a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, with a player option for the 2028-29 season.

Contract details: $51 million for the 2026-27 season, $55.1 million for the 2027-28 season, and $59.2 million for the 2028-29 season (player option), totaling $165.3 million.

The first year of this early extension replaces the player option Doncic had in his original contract for the 2026-27 season and includes a $2 million salary increase for that season.

Due to being traded from the Mavericks to the Lakers in February 2025, Doncic missed the opportunity for a five-year, $345 million supermax contract; this short-term deal paves the way for a larger contract in the future.

If he becomes a free agent in 2028, he could sign a five-year, $417 million super contract.

After securing a large sum of money, Doncic is also very generous:

“Today, I pledge to donate $5 million to help 77 young athletes around the world chase their dreams, just like I did back in the day. Basketball has given me everything, and I feel fortunate to give back to society and help the next generation.”

Regarding the extension, General Manager Pelinka has made it clear, calling it a “milestone moment,” emphasizing that Doncic is a “killer on the court” and “the face of the Lakers' future.”

As for LeBron, Pelinka's stance is: “We want to respect LeBron's ability to set his own timeline, which is very important. But if he has the chance to retire as a Lakers player, that would be wonderful.”

Looking at the two statements together, what is the implication?

It's up to you; the core of the Lakers is now Doncic.

Throughout this process, LeBron's team has put pressure on the Lakers' management, but the team's stance is now very clear.

In the future, the team will definitely be built around Doncic.

Today's contract renewal was very high-profile and ceremonial, with players like Ayton, Smart, Hachimura, and Vincent all in attendance, giving Doncic plenty of respect.

These are all signs of the Lakers stepping into a new era.

This isn't meant to stir controversy; perhaps LeBron's fans will be dissatisfied, feeling that a veteran player should be treated differently, but this is the world of a commercial league, and renewal and change are essential in competitive sports.

To be realistic, next season might not be LeBron's last dance, but it could very well be his final season with the Lakers.

The image below is quite significant; it conveys a strong message.

After all, the Lakers' plan to build around Doncic is slowly unfolding.

During this offseason, the team signed Ayton, Larravia, and Smart, and completed a renewal with Hayes, all largely reflecting Doncic's wishes.

Ayton and Hayes share the same agent as him.

You will notice that, apart from Doncic and Vanderbilt (who has a player option of $13.28 million for the 2027-28 season), all other players on this Lakers team have contracts remaining of no more than two years.

The Lakers are consciously maintaining flexibility to make immediate moves when opportunities arise or to retain flexibility for the future; having flexibility in a new system is key to building a team.

In this regard, the Lakers are quite similar to the Clippers.

It's worth noting that Jokic will become a free agent in the summer of 2027, and the Lakers are preparing salary cap space for 2027.

Is it a coincidence? Not really.

If Jokic isn't happy in Denver, given Doncic's close connection with him, it’s hard not to make a call...