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Luka Doncic Trade to Lakers Will Cost Him a Fortune in Salary

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Feb 2, 2025 7:41 AM ET

As things stand, Luka Doncic was already a very wealthy basketball player, and set to become an even wealthier basketball player in the coming years. Six All-Star selections in seven seasons will do that for a player, as will career averages of 28.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists.

The problem for the Mavericks, though, was they were not sure that Doncic would want to remain a very wealthy basketball player in Dallas, or if he was set to bolt for other pastures after the 2025-26 season. He is signed for next year at $46 million, but can be a free agent in 2026.

The expectation was that Doncic would sign a so-called "supermax" deal with the Mavericks, a five-year contract he could only sign with Dallas, worth around $350 million--depending on where the salary cap lands that year.

He'd get much less by leaving in free agency, four years and about $240 million. The NBA counts on that gap to entice star players to stay with their current teams.

Now, following his shocking trade to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, though, Doncic is not longer eligible for the $350 million deal.

"This will cost him around $60 million," one Western Conference executive noted.

That's because in going to the Lakers, Doncic can still sign a max deal, but only for a standard max, not a supermax. His contract will start at 30% of the salary cap.

The total math there works out to about $290 million, starting in 2026, instead of $350 million. But playing for the Lakers as the team's centerpiece for the next 10 years or so, Doncic can likely make up that money in endorsements.

Obviously, it's a stunning trade. But if Doncic had let the Mavericks know that the supermax was not going to be enough to keep him Dallas, it makes some sense from Dallas' side.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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