Amid mounting speculation and anxiety over Luka Doncic’s looming contract extension, Lakers insider Jovan Buha has pointed to two encouraging signs that suggest the franchise can breathe a little easier. Speaking on his podcast, Buha expressed confidence that Doncic is still likely to ink a new deal with Los Angeles, and he didn’t base it on blind hope.
His insights come directly from what's unfolding around the Lakers this summer, as well as chatter behind the scenes.
"I still expect Luka to sign the extension. I think you look at some of the tea leaves this summer, the Lakers adding Deandre Ayton, and him and Luka being with the same agent, but also having a good relationship."
"You see them bringing back Jaxson Hayes, who's also repped by the same agent. You see Luka tweeting out his support for the Mark Walter sale and winning championships as a Laker, and winning championships with the new ownership group."
"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 Dorian Finney-Smith, that was one of his closest teammates, one of his closest friends in the NBA. That is one thing I don't think was great with this whole situation this summer."
"But outside of that, everything has been positive with his time with the Lakers. I know he's been very happy, his representation's been very happy, and management's been happy. 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."
Those connections may seem small in isolation, but in the world of NBA free agency and extensions, representation and relationships matter. Luka and Ayton not only share an agent Bill Duffy but have mutual respect and chemistry.
Bringing in familiar faces from Luka’s orbit is viewed as a calculated move by the Lakers' front office to create a sense of continuity and trust. Pair that with Hayes’ return, and it becomes clear the Lakers are building not just for talent, but for cultural alignment with their franchise cornerstone.
The second sign Buha highlighted involves Luka’s own public gestures. That level of buy-in, especially from someone as measured and brand-conscious as Doncic, is not insignificant. With the Lakers under new ownership following Walter's historic $10 billion acquisition, Luka’s enthusiastic support shows he's at least invested emotionally in this team’s future.
Still, there are some minor cracks in the foundation. Buha did acknowledge that Doncic wasn’t thrilled with the Lakers losing Dorian Finney-Smith, one of his closest friends and former Dallas teammates. Despite that hiccup, Buha emphasized that the mood around the Lakers has remained optimistic.
The Lakers have also made a point of keeping their 2026 cap sheet clean, leaving themselves financial flexibility to find Doncic a long-term co-star. Several big names, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, have already been linked to the Lakers for that summer. While all of them remain long shots, the front office believes that cap space and superstar pedigree are enough to at least get a seat at the table.
Of course, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Doncic is eligible for a $229 million extension this summer. If he chooses not to sign, over ten teams are likely to clear cap space and make a run at him in 2026. The Lakers, already stressed over LeBron James’ uncertain future, would be risking a catastrophic loss of both superstars within a year.
But for now, Buha’s signs point toward stability. If those tea leaves prove accurate, the Lakers’ gamble on Luka may just pay off.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!