The Los Angeles Lakers have set their sights on Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks as a potential team leader after LeBron James. This information comes from journalist Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer.

O’Connor suggested that the California franchise might try to sign the Slovenian star as early as next summer, especially if LeBron, who is soon turning 41, decides not to exercise his $52.2 million player option. If James does choose to exercise his option, Dončić’s potential move to Los Angeles could be postponed until 2026, when LeBron’s current contract expires, assuming he retires at that point.

However, making such a plan a reality won’t be easy. Any deal for a player of Dončić’s caliber would be extremely complicated and costly. The 25-year-old basketball player signed a five-year, $215 million contract in 2022, binding him to the Mavericks at least until 2026. If he exercises his $48.9 million player option, the contract will extend until 2027.

These figures might not pose a problem for the Lakers, but the real challenge lies in the fact that Dončić is rumored to be close to signing the largest contract in NBA history with his current team. In the summer of 2025, he could sign a five-year deal worth $346 million, averaging $69 million per season, with some seasons exceeding $70 million.