Whether it comes at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season or not, the Los Angeles Lakers are already turning the page from the LeBron James era to the Luka Doncic era.
After Doncic agreed to a long-term extension with the franchise this summer, Lakers fans are starting to get a glimpse of the plan Rob Pelinka has for building the best roster possible around the Slovenian star once that time comes. As is typically the case when it comes to the Purple and Gold, Los Angeles will be big-game hunting when it comes to accumulating high-end talent.
Lakers Reportedly Eyeing Giannis, Jokic to Pair with Luka Doncic in 2027
Tucked away in a recent piece by Sam Amick for The Athletic concerning the ongoing saga between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors was an interesting bit of information regarding the plans Rob Pelinka has in place for the Lakers.
While we are still discussing the potential for something happening years in advance, it is hard to suggest the names being bantered about wouldn't be worth the wait. According to Amick, Los Angeles is fully expected to make a push for both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic following the 2027-28 season, as both players will have the ability to opt out of their current contracts and hit the open market at the same time.
With players of the caliber of Antetokounmpo and Jokic being part of the conversation, the Lakers will have plenty of competition across the league if those two elect to move on from Milwaukee and Denver, respectively. One thing that the Purple and Gold will be able to offer that other franchises cannot, however, is a generational star at the point guard position.
As great as Antetokounmpo and Jokic are in their own right, a three-headed monster of those two, along with Doncic, would be an international nightmare for the rest of the NBA. From a matchup perspective alone, good luck to opposing defenses who would have to pick their poison when attempting to deal with three players of that caliber sharing the floor.
This may all sound amazing on paper. For it to come to fruition, Pelinka will have to have a little luck on his side, along with one hell of a sales pitch. Giannis has been vocal in the past about not wanting to be part of a superteam. Jokic may very well love horse racing more than he does basketball.
Getting all three of those players on the same page and, more importantly, in the same uniform would be something of a dream for Lakers fans. Whether it can happen is a different story altogether, though. That is Pelinka's job to figure out, and, per Amick, it appears as though the plan is already being pieced together.