Lakers' next era: Fits around Luka, LeBron's future, and why 2027 could change everything

Luka Doncic signed a three-year, $165 million maximum contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, aiming to build a sustainable championship contender around the franchise's 17-title legacy. At 26, he expressed urgency about returning to the NBA Finals immediately, telling Lakers executives during a May dinner: "I don't want to wait... let's do whatever we can now." This contrasts with LeBron James' 2018 arrival at age 34 to revive a struggling franchise, as Doncic joins five years after the Lakers' last championship.

Analysis reveals two optimal player archetypes to pair with Doncic. First, rim-running centers like Dereck Lively II—his former Mavericks teammate—with whom he formed the NBA's third-most impactful duo statistically. Doncic excels in pick-and-rolls requiring vertical threats, ranking second in assisted dunks since entering the league. Second, knockdown shooters capitalize on his league-leading generation of corner 3-point attempts. However, the current Lakers roster lacks proven shooters, with only Rui Hachimura, Jake LaRavia, and Dalton Knecht hitting above-average corner threes recently.

Acquiring shooters appears feasible given the NBA's surplus, with affordable options like Luke Kennard ($11M deal) and available free agents such as Seth Curry. Conversely, quality two-way centers are scarcer. New Lakers center Deandre Ayton provides a decent short-term fit but lacks Lively's verticality and consistency. Long-term center strategies diverge: either pursue an All-Star caliber big man (difficult) or trust Doncic's ability to elevate any rim-runner, as demonstrated with rookie Lively.

Doncic's history of thriving alongside skilled ball-handlers like Kyrie Irving (NBA Finals appearance) and Jalen Brunson (Conference Finals) suggests compatibility with LeBron James, despite James not fitting the typical shooter or rim-runner mold. The overarching question remains whether Doncic—backed by billionaire owner Mark Walter—can defy the NBA's recent streak of seven different champions and restore sustained dominance to Los Angeles.