Lakers Receive Eye-Opening Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic Pairing Scenario

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers have entered an offseason full of pressing questions. 

Doncic, acquired by the Lakers in a seismic trade 15 months ago, is firmly positioned at the franchise cornerstone and someone whom the Lakers will work tirelessly to appease. That’ll start by assembling an ideal roster around the 27-year-old star.

The Lakers are manned by Doncic, Austin Reaves and LeBron James, but there is a possibility Reaves and James are in different uniforms before the 2026-27 season rolls around. 

Doncic’s close friend, Nikola Jokic, meanwhile started his offseason weeks ago. Immediately, many wondered what Jokic’s future would hold.

Jokic, a three-time NBA Most Valuable Player, is another megastar who has found his name tethered to multiple possibilities — including joining the Lakers some day.

According to CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn, there is a path for the Lakers to add Jokic in the short-term future.

“Fans have fantasized about a Dončić-Jokić partnership for years,” Quinn wrote on CBSSports.com. “The two are friends. But Jokić has indicated at every turn that he plans to remain in Denver. He is eligible to extend this offseason. He was eligible last year, too, and while there were financial reasons for him to wait, the fact that he didn’t sign did power the rumor mill briefly. If, for whatever reason, he elects not to extend this offseason, the Lakers drop everything and prepare for max space next summer. Who cares if such a pairing couldn’t stop anyone? It’s two of the best five players in the league.”

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Luka Doncic + Nikola Jokic: The NBA’s Next Big-Time Duo?

It’s a question that has crossed probably every NBA fan’s mind over the last few weeks.

Jokic, like Doncic, is the face of a franchise and viewed by everyone as an untouchable asset. But, if the Doncic trade taught the world anything, it’s that any one can be expendable at any time.

Jokic and the Nuggets recently capped off a largely underwhelming season. The Nuggets were considered title threats before the season began, only to be eliminated in the second round or earlier for the third year in a row. 

Denver’s postseason struggles since winning a title in 2023 is the main reason why some are wondering whether Jokic will commit to being a Nugget for the long run.

Jokic is under contract through next season and has a player-option for the 2027-28 season. Trade aside, if the Lakers wanted to position themselves to grab Jokic, they could recruit him as a free agent in 2027 assuming he declines his player-option and enters unrestricted free agency. 

The expectation in Denver, however, is Jokic will sign a contract extension, perhaps as soon as this offseason. 

But if Jokic chooses to hold off on doing business with the Nuggets for now, especially if he desires to pressure the team to improve the roster, it could crack open the door to Jokic signing with another team in roughly 17 months from now.

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A Pipe Dream or Attainable Goal?

It’s L.A., the natural stage for glitz and glamour. And with the NBA becoming a more global brand with many of its top players foreign-born, pairing two of the league’s most popular international stars on the booming entity that is the Los Angeles Lakers would amplify the sport’s reach in a way the NBA would fully embrace.

Of course, a lot more would weigh into this scenario becoming a reality than just what the league would want. The Lakers are already walking a tight rope, and if they retain James and Reaves this offseason, then acquiring Jokic via free agency next offseason suddenly becomes far more complex.

The Lakers are, and will always be, the Lakers. Nothing can be put behind them in terms of grabbing supernova talent.

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