Confirmed! The signing was reached, the Lakers made a lot of money in three years with only 165 million yuan, and James s move has aroused suspicion

Editor|Old Kankanqiu

This offseason, many stars in the league have won the big contract they have always dreamed of. For example, Alexander of the Thunder reached a four-year, $285 million super maximum salary contract with the team in advance, setting a new record for the NBA; the second-in-command Jewish and the third-in-command Chet also signed a five-year maximum salary contract of $289 million and a five-year, 239 million. After the Thunder won the championship, they invested a lot. In addition, Booker also reached a two-year, US$145 million contract renewal with the Suns in advance, breaking the NBA's single-season salary record again. It is obvious that after sending off Durant, the Suns intend to re-establish Booker's core position. It has to be said that with the effectiveness of the new NBA broadcast contract, the team's total salary has increased, and the players' annual salary has grown rapidly every year. In the new season, as many as 14 people have an annual salary of just over 50 million, and Curry ranked first in the league with 59.61 million.

So, in today's NBA league, big contracts are really flying all over the world. And just today, US media ESPN famous reporter Shams Charania was the first to reveal the big news: the Lakers completed an early renewal with Luka Doncic with a three-year, $165 million max contract. The Lakers then posted the signing photos, officially announcing that the 26-year-old superstar will stay in Los Angeles for a long time. Doncic in the photo has obviously lost weight. When he stood with General Manager Pelinka, his figure dimension was almost the same - this is obviously the result of his hard training this offseason, and his commitment to the new season: to strive for the championship again with James.

01 The Lakers make a big profit: salary cuts lock on Doncic

According to Bobby Marks, a famous salary expert in the US media, if it weren't for being traded by the Mavericks in the middle of last season, Doncic would have signed a five-year, $315 million super maximum salary in Dallas this summer. Therefore, this deal actually cost Doncic about 150 million of potential income, while the Lakers received the dividend of "pay cut and contract renewal".

Then, the famous reporter Shams added Doncic's contract details:

Season

Salary (10,000 US dollars)

2026-2027

5100

2027-2028

5510

2028-2029

5920

However, for Doncic, it is not too much loss. He has the option of a player in 2028. If Doncic chooses to jump out of the contract, he will have 10 years of NBA qualifications and can sign a super maximum salary of 35% of the salary cap - expected to reach $417 million in five years.

The Lakers exchanged short-term flexibility for long-term core lock-up, while Doncic exchanged short-term concessions for greater future gains, which is also a win-win situation.

02 Star-studded press conference: After a meaningful absence

officially announced the signing of the contract, the Los Angeles Lakers held a grand press conference for Doncic. Head coach Redick and general manager Pelinka personally stood on the stage, and teammates Cleber, Smart, Vincent, Ayton and others all came to congratulate.

However, it is surprising that James did not appear in this historic occasion that concerns the future of the Lakers.

This absence instantly caused heated discussions on social media, and many media and fans began to suspect the reason for James' absence. What is even more intriguing is that 24 hours before the press conference, many US media reported that James may announce next season as the "last dance" in August. Lakers' team reporter Brett Siegel revealed that there are strong signs that the 40-year-old legend will usher in his career farewell season.

In fact, this summer, James was extremely low-key, did not participate in any operations of the Lakers' management, and focused on recuperation and vacation.

"The Lakers have clearly declared that they have entered the Luca Doncic era," famous reporter Marc Stein said bluntly, "They hope that James will leave after the contract expires. The 2025-26 season will be James' last year in Los Angeles."

03 James' crossroads: The conflicting statements of management

The Lakers' management sends a complex signal around James' future. When asked about James' retirement, General Manager Pelinka publicly stated: "I hope he retires with the Lakers!"

However, Pelinka's statement is in a subtle contrast with the actual operation of the team.

NBA famous reporter Stein's analysis is even sharper: "I don't think James will retire as a non-Lakes player. But all signs show that the Lakers don't seem to provide him with such an opportunity, which is really contradictory."

If James chooses to leave after playing next season, a possible ending point will surface. The Cleveland Cavaliers team reporter revealed that the management has initially discussed the plan to welcome James back. In terms of business layout, James is promoting film and television cooperation with Amazon and participating in shareholder negotiations for future NBA teams in Las Vegas. These actions are interpreted as the basis for career transformation.

04 Lakers Blueprint Reconstruction: Post-James era?

Unlike James' low-key this offseason, Doncic actively participates in the team's reinforcement work. During the offseason, he took the initiative to participate in the recruitment of Ayton and Smart, showing his new core voice. When the new player officially announced his joining, he was also the first player in the team to actively welcome him, and he felt very involved.

In fact, Doncic is indeed worth the Lakers' huge salary and core position. Since joining the Lakers in February, he has averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.5 assists per game in 28 regular season games, and the playoffs has increased to 30.2 points, 7 rebounds, 5.8 assists..

In the Lakers system, the team's net efficiency is as high as +4.2 when he is on the court, which is indeed efficient.

All signs indicate that perhaps, the power in the Lakers' locker room may have been handed over, and the Lakers' post-James era is quietly taking place!