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NBA franchises are starting to look past the current offseason, contemplating potential future strategies. One such possibility involves the Los Angeles Lakers, who might eventually also team up Luka Doncic with either Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokic.
According to Anthony Irwin, a senior insider for ClutchPoints, recent discussions among the Lakers and other NBA squads suggest they are positioning themselves to make offers for superstar players like the “Freak” and the “Joker.”
While the Lakers and other franchises believe that Doncic will likely sign a contract extension even after EuroBasket 2025, various scenarios involving fellow European stars may arise by the next summer.
Despite ongoing chatter regarding LeBron James, who is approaching 40, he is anticipated to remain with the Lakers for the 2025-26 season. Nonetheless, if he opts to leave at the conclusion of his contract next summer—either to retire or join another team—it would create a beneficial salary cap scenario for the Lakers to pursue Jokic or Giannis. Other teams, such as the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers, are also reportedly clearing cap space for potential significant acquisitions.
Jokic, who is 30 years old, is contracted through the 2026-27 season, with a player option for the 2027-28 season. He is expected to wait until the next offseason to negotiate a contract extension and is likely to re-sign with the Denver Nuggets. However, any potential opportunity for him to hit the trade market would certainly attract interest from the previously mentioned teams.
Similarly, Antetokounmpo, also 30, has a contract lasting until the end of the 2026-27 season, with a player option for 2027-28. This places him in a comparable situation to Jokic, and the ongoing speculation regarding his future with the Milwaukee Bucks suggests that developments may be more imminent during the upcoming offseason.
These rumors revolve around a potential future landscape following a 2025-26 season that may bring numerous changes for all parties involved.
Before the next NBA season begins, Doncic, Jokic, and Antetokounmpo are expected to represent Slovenia, Serbia, and Greece, respectively, in the EuroBasket 2025.
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