Abandon $417 million? Doncic leaving the Lakers is not just speculation: Unfulfilled promises could drive him away

On June 22, Beijing time, Lakers beat reporter Woike answered fans' questions online, addressing Doncic’s future in Los Angeles and the team’s center recruitment.

A fan inquired: “Does the Lakers front office truly value the issue of Doncic approaching free agency? Or do they assume, given the Lakers’ brand, that they can just make small adjustments annually and expect every star to choose to remain?”

Woike stated that if the management isn’t paying attention, they need to wake up immediately. “Right after last season ended, Sam Amick and I reported that the window for the Lakers to build around Doncic is closing—multiple sources have since confirmed that assessment. Doncic is in his prime. When he was traded away from Dallas, the Mavericks had constructed a championship-level roster around him. If the Lakers fail to deliver on their promises, Doncic could absolutely seek another destination—stars understand that the NBA is purely a business, and Doncic knows that better than anyone.”

“He still has two years left on his current contract, with a player option for the third year;before 2028, he will be eligible for a supermax deal worth over $417 million in total. Walking away from that massive payday would be costly, but if the Lakers cannot realize the blueprint they laid out last summer, it’s no empty talk that Doncic might consider leaving. The Lakers’ moves this summer, the outcomes of their signings and trades, and Doncic’s attitude toward the team’s operations will shape the franchise—and even the entire league—for years to come. The Lakers don’t have to solve all their roster problems in a single offseason, but they must start providing answers this year.”

Another fan asked: “Who will be the Lakers’ long-term starting center?”

Woike indicated that the Lakers themselves don’t have a clear answer yet. “Walker Kessler has been a long-term target for the team. A sign-and-trade remains a slim possibility, but Utah would need to take on a large salary at center, and their willingness to trade him is extremely low—they’ve turned down multiple previous opportunities. Yves Missi’s skill set seems perfectly suited for Doncic’s system, but whether he can perform consistently in high-stakes games like Dallas’s Gafford or Dereck Lively II remains to be seen.”

“Cleveland is facing salary pressure, but I don’t think they’ll easily part with starting center Jarrett Allen unless they lock in a replacement first. Mitchell Robinson and Isaiah Hartenstein are likely to re-sign with their current teams and won’t hit the open market. If Hartenstein becomes available in a trade, the Thunder will surely exercise his team option, so the Lakers would need to give up more draft picks to make a deal. Robert Williams is also a potential target. However, league sources say that Williams played 59 games last season—his second-highest total in an injury-plagued career—and Portland is leaning toward extending his contract.”

“The Lakers urgently need a center who can roll to the rim and finish, while also providing reliable rim protection. But such quality big men are scarce on the market, and those available via trade or free agency are even fewer—luck hasn’t been on their side.”