Blockbuster trade cost Luka Doncic largest contract in NBA history

By virtue of making the All-NBA team last season, his fifth straight All-NBA first team nod, Doncic became eligible for a contract extension that started at 35% of the salary cap, with annual raises of 8%. That would translate to a five-year contract worth just over $346M, according to cap expert Bobby Marks.

Now, any contract extension that Doncic signs with the Lakers would start at just 30% of the salary cap. He can't sign for 35% of the cap until he's played 10 seasons in the NBA, which won't be until the summer of 2028. That means he's likely to sign a shorter extension with the Lakers this summer. It also means the Lakers get a superstar at a discount — $8M less than Davis will earn per year each of the next three seasons.

Doncic told reporters Tuesday that he was fully prepared to sign an extension with Dallas this summer.

The Mavericks were reportedly hesitant to take on the full supermax, whether out of concern for Doncic's injury history or simply out of ownership's concern for committing to nearly $350M, after spending $3.5B to buy a controlling share in the team. They also have the right to buy another 20% of the team in the next four year from Mark Cuban, which would cost them another $1B.

But through no fault of his own, except for earning too many NBA awards, Doncic has forfeited his chance at a record contract. It's within the Mavericks' rights not to pay Doncic a supermax, but it shouldn't mean he can't get that deal from someone else.