Report: Mark Walter’s Deep Pockets, Success With Dodgers Make Lakers More Appealing For Luka Doncic

According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Mark Walter’s deep pockets and success with the Los Angeles Dodgers make the Los Angeles Lakers more appealing for Luka Doncic. 

Doncic can sign a contract extension with the Lakers on August 2 for as much as four years and $229 million.

He can also agree to a two-year extension to get him to 10 years of service in the summer of 2028, when he could sign a five-year max contract at 35% of the salary cap to maximize his earnings.

“A source close to Doncic said that Walter’s deep pockets, combined with his results with the Dodgers, make L.A. that much more appealing for the 26-year-old superstar,” McMenamin wrote. 

Doncic averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists with the Lakers in the regular season after the Dallas Mavericks traded him in February.

The future Hall of Famer then put up 30.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in the Minnesota Timberwolves series.

The Lakers lost to the Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games despite having Doncic and LeBron James. 

A five-time All-Star, Doncic will make $46 million next season.

“The Lakers are an amazing organization,” Doncic wrote on X. “I’m looking forward to meeting Mark and excited about the future. I am also grateful to Jeanie and the Buss family for welcoming me to LA, and I’m happy that Jeanie will continue to be involved. I look forward to working with both of them to win championships!”

Doncic is widely expected to be with the Lakers for the rest of his career. 

“You always want the wealthiest owners, so that speaks for itself,” the source told ESPN “And his track record speaks for itself. … [Doncic] wants to win. This owner’s proven that he wants to win. So this is a plus-plus.”