Luka Doncic Rumors

Brian Windhorst: He's playing for the Slovenian national team at the European Championships, frequently called Eurobasket, which is the most one of the most valuable uh tournament for the Europeans outside the Olympics. And he won the Eurobasket for Slovenia earlier in his career, probably the greatest moment of his career. They play six exhibition games leading up to the start on August 27th and that it could they could go as late as September 14th, which means he may not be back into the US if the Slovenians get all the way to the end until late September. And you know, McMahon will tell you that in the past when he's been playing for the national team, he has not done NBA business, including NBA contracts. So, he could certainly pledge his intention to sign with the Lakers. But do not freak out if you do not hear from Luka contractually until September. 

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Jovan Buha: So that all to me suggests that Luka is going to be staying and everything I've heard behind the scenes has been positive. I don't know that he loved losing DFS. That was one of his closest teammates. He was one of his closest friends in the NBA. And that is like one thing that I don't think was great with this whole situation of this summer. But outside of that, everything has been positive with his time with the Lakers and I know he's been very happy and his representation's been very happy and and management's been happy and everyone's been happy. So I expect Luka to sign probably the shorter term extension, three years, 165 million. Nothing has changed on that front. But I think the whole timing wrench and how this could just be a let's take our time with this and let's go through EuroBasket and then let's continue to ponder and and maybe sign something right before the season. But whether it's on August 2nd or on September 15th, I think Luka is going to sign that extension and I think he's going to remain a Laker.

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The Phoenix Suns will play the Los Angeles Lakers twice this preseason, with the latter game scheduled for Oct. 17 at PHX Arena, league sources informed The Arizona Republic. The Suns face the Lakers in the Palm Springs, California, area on Oct. 3. Phoenix has played Los Angeles at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California, the past two seasons. It’s a home game for the Lakers. The Suns and Lakers played twice last preseason as well, with the second game in Phoenix.

Arizona Republic

Much of the tension appears to stem from the Lakers’ desire to keep their salary-cap sheet as clear as possible starting next summer, allowing them to find Luka Dončić’s future partner either in free agency or via trade, when they’ll have access to use first-round picks in 2026, 2031 and 2033 for a single trade.

New York Times

Eurohoops: Michael Jordan hosted an exclusive Jordan Brand dinner in Athens, Greece, with many celebrities invited, including Luka Dončić and Rui Hachimura. ( Via Greek Boys)

Twitter

Dave McMenamin: Now, I've checked in with both the Lakers and LeBron's camp on this one. For the Lakers, it's business as usual. They have motivation to compete at the highest level and maximize not just LeBron's timeline, but they want to compete now with Luka Doncic. Some have said that the true cause of this situation was the Lakers not offering LeBron a contract beyond next season. But Rich Paul told me that they never asked for one. Paul also made it clear to me that LeBron has not asked for a trade. And Paul hasn't even discussed the possibility of wanting a trade in the future with the Lakers. Paul did tell me that four teams contacted him with interest in trading for LeBron. So now we wait. The Lakers have a full roster to have a decision to make on Shake Milton's contract by July 20th. They also have three expiring contracts in Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, who's here tonight, and Maxi Kleber, plus their 2031 first-round draft pick they can use in trade scenarios. Now, I asked LeBron just before tip off if he'd like to join the broadcast to discuss everything, and he told me, quote, "I ain't got nothing to talk about, guys."

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Luka Doncic phoned former Dallas Mavericks teammate Kyrie Irving while Kyrie was live

reddit

THE LAKERS' POSTURE did not come as a surprise to James, sources said. But it also did not go down easily. Since the Doncic trade on Feb. 1, the Lakers have signaled this shift from James to Doncic through a series of microaggressions: • They did not give him significant notice that they were trading Davis for Doncic -- a transgression James forgave, sources said, because of his respect for Doncic and understanding of the franchise's reasoning for making the trade and keeping it under wraps for as long as possible.

ESPN

On May 3, four days after the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Craig's reserved a booth for four VIPs: the Lakers' new superstar point guard, Luka Doncic; his longtime manager, Lara Beth Seager; Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka; and coach JJ Redick. LeBron James, the centerpiece of every Lakers decision and strategy for the previous seven-plus years, was not in attendance. Redick, Pelinka and Seager entered through the front entrance, Doncic through the back. But all four exited through the front door, where a crowd of paparazzi and fans spotted them and took videos that were immediately uploaded to TMZ and social media. Doncic even stopped to sign a few autographs before leaving. The purpose of the meeting was as clear as their choice of door: Doncic is the face of the franchise now and the Lakers wanted him -- and everyone else -- to know it. Over a bottle of Opus One, Pelinka and Redick explained not only their strategy in building the team around Doncic's skill set, sources told ESPN, but also the complexities of the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement and how they planned to navigate it.

ESPN

The Lakers will gladly accept either, though they may have to be patient; Doncic is playing for the Slovenian national team this summer in the high-intensity EuroBasket, which runs through mid-September, and his NBA contract business might wait until then. But that is not the kind of topic you talk about over dinner at Craig's in May, however. No, at that dinner plans are made to visit Doncic in Europe later this summer. Players he would like to team up with are discussed; the team's style of play and organizational culture are examined. Behind the tinted windows, the leaders of the Lakers' organization sent a message to the star they hope will lead them: That this is what life in L.A. can be like if he elects to stay and be the next face of the franchise.

ESPN

Jovan Buha: I’ve heard they have a good rapport—like, by NBA standards, a good rapport between Luka (Doncic) and Deandre Ayton. They share an agent. They were two of the top three picks in the same draft—the 2018 draft. Ayton went first, Luka went third. Their families have met each other. They have a relationship. Luka, I’ve been told, was on board with Ayton coming in. He gave the stamp of approval. He’s excited to have a pick-and-roll partner. And Deandre Ayton, for all the discourse around him, has been statistically one of the most efficient pick-and-roll finishers, lob threats, over the last few years. So I think Luka is excited—certainly an upgrade over Jaxson Hayes, let’s say. This is a guy who’s been a double-double every year of his career. Obviously, there’ve been some questions about his motor and whatnot. But I think he’s effectively in a contract year, so he’s got a lot to prove.

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Sean Highkin: At Summer League practice this morning Yang Hansen was asked to name his all-time NBA starting five. He kept it to current players because he's too young to have seen older players, but he went with Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Nikola Jokic.

bsky.app

Speaking at his press conference, Ayton said he has heard that Doncic has gotten "ripped" in preparation for the coming season. "It feels like a video game, like somebody set it up," Ayton said after being asked about teaming with his draftmate. "I think somebody set this up. But, honestly, this is an opportunity I won't take for granted. Luka is a once-in-a-generation player. Hearing the shape he's in, he's super ripped. I'm finally glad to be on this side while he's doing all of that. I'm truly excited."

CBSSports.com

Deandre Ayton: I have a team that's ready to win a championship and has the best two playmakers in the world. I know the type of player I am when I have players of that caliber around me — how I thrive and the contribution they'll get out of me.

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