The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for a pivotal 2025-26 season with LeBron James and Luka Dončić at the helm, but it's become apparent that the franchise will be more attentive to the latter of the duo moving forward.
As the 2025 NBA offseason rolls along, the Lakers have made an effort tobuild a title contender with James on the roster for their next campaign, but a statement from his longtime agent Rich Paul hinted that the 40-year-old's vision for the immediate future might not match up with that of his current team.
After Paul's comments opened the trade speculation floodgates regarding the future Hall of Fame inductee, the Lakers have made it obvious that their 26-year-old superstar Dončić is viewed as the more important piece at this point in time, a wildly unfamiliar situation for James.
With the Lakers ready to enter a new era led by their latest all-time great talent, recent reports have indicated that the franchise will put the James trade scenarios on the back burner to hammer out the details of a potential Dončić contract extension later this summer.
"Regardless of who they sign at center, regardless of what LeBron does with his option, regardless of any backup signings they make, the number one most important thing for the Lakers this offseason is getting Luka Dončić into a contract extension," ESPN's Brian Windhorst shared during a Thursday appearance on ESPN's Get Up.
"This offseason is not about LeBron for the Lakers, it is about Luka."
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Though James earned All-NBA Second Team honors after contributing an astounding 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists for the Lakers in 70 regular-season appearances last season, the legendary forward is still on his way out.
Both James and the Lakers realize that while his production still baffles the minds of the greater NBA sphere, Dončić has already taken centerstage as the franchise's top priority.
The ex-Dallas Mavericks superstar and 5-time All-NBA First Team selection will be eligible to ink a new $228 million extension with the Lakers starting on Aug. 2, a deal that will inevitably run through the end of James' illustrious career.
Whether James remains with Los Angeles until the very end or eventually desires a change of scenery, Dončić's potential contract extension agreement will mark the true beginning of a new era for the storied organization.
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