Luka Dončić has just signed a lucrative $165 million contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers. He joined them in an emphatic trade from the Dallas Mavericks. Nico Harrison decided to offload their superstar, and he was served to Rob Pelinka on a platter.
Since then, the Lakers look much stronger on paper, although they could not beat the Minnesota Timberwolves in the playoffs this year.
One major problem for the Lakers was their defense. They have loaded their offense with Dončić, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. But they struggled without a center for years; without Anthony Davis, it was an even bigger problem. This is where Dončić swooped in to help solve the team’s most significant issues.
Luka Dončić’s Influence In Lakers’ Recent Moves Revealed
NBA insider Jake Weinbach recently revealed that Dončić was directly involved in recruiting Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart, the Lakers’ last major defensive additions. He also emphasized building a ‘perennial contender’ to support Dončić moving forward.
Dončić was involved in the recruitment of Deandre Ayton and Marcus Smart for the Lakers this offseason — and the expectation is that the Slovenian superstar will continue to work with GM Rob Pelinka and the front office on building a perennial contender around him moving forward. https://t.co/ciHDnjjobr
— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) August 2, 2025
It certainly looks like the Lakers are building around Dončić at this point, and understandably so. He is one of the best players when he’s fit and has never looked better. His recent transformation has Lakers fans buzzing with excitement.
But Dončić’s influence in offseason decisions may indicate that James’ role might be different now. And there’s more proof of this if we dig deeper.
Does Luka Dončić’s Influence Mean That LeBron James May Be Phased Out?
It is no secret that James assists his team in recruiting players. His influence is arguably unmatched, and players would be ecstatic to play with one of the greatest players of all time. One example is when James reportedly went on a desperate search for the Lakers’ third star and helped recruit Russell Westbrook.
However, that role is Dončić’s now. This is also indicated by Ayton and Smart’s comments after they signed with the Lakers. After Ayton signed with the Lakers, he was asked if either James or Dončić had reached out to him.”Not really, yet,” Ayton said in an ESPN interview. “But I definitely got a text from Luka.”
Read More: Luka Dončić Makes Bold 5-Word Promise to Lakers Fans After Signing Massive $165,000,000 Contract Extension
Smart made a similar comment about how he ended up with the Lakers, saying, “When you get a guy like Luka calling, referencing, checking on you, trying to see where you’re at to see if you want to come and join something special that he’s trying to cook up over here… For him to say that he can really use my help, that meant a lot.”
When asked directly if he had talked with James, Smart responded, “I have not talked to LeBron yet. ‘Bron’s a busy man. I’m going to talk to him when he gets time.”
There have been some strong reports that Pelinka and Co. may want to move on from James. With the new owner, Mark Walter, in town, the Lakers may want a new player as the face of the franchise, and the recent events only add to those rumors.
Only time will tell how James’ future will be with the Lakers. He has been linked with a move away but still has a no-trade clause and recently picked up his player option. Whether he chooses to leave or considers retiring, we will have to wait and find out.