On Aug. 2, which is just over a week from now, Luka Doncic will be eligible to sign a long-term contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. While there was previously a bit of anxiety regarding whether he would commit to staying with the team beyond this coming season, there seems to be a new confidence that he will be staying put.
He was reportedly active in recruiting guard Marcus Smart to the Lakers, which is a sign that he’s emotionally connected to the franchise. Doncic will be representing his native Slovenia in the upcoming EuroBasket tournament later this summer.
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It was thought that he might wait until the end of the summer, when he returns to the United States, to sign his extension. But according to Martin Pavcnik of Sportklub, the superstar may take care of that piece of business before Eurobasket begins (h/t Lakers Nation).
“For him, for the fans and for his ambitions, the most important thing is that Luka Dončić will wear the national team jersey again. The date of his arrival is still shrouded in mystery, but it is expected to be August 4. This suggests that he may sign a new contract with the LA Lakers before then.”
As of now, Doncic can opt out of his current contract next summer. But the Lakers have already started building a winning roster around the 26-year-old by bringing in Smart, a former Defensive Player of the Year, and Deandre Ayton, a young rim-running center who is a legitimate lob threat.
The superstar was traded to Los Angeles on Feb. 1 and averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists a game as a member of the Lakers during the regular season.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Luka Doncic could sign extension with Lakers sooner rather than later