The Los Angeles Lakers have set Luka Doncic up to be eligible for a no-trade clause in his next contract, creating an issue that they will eventually have to face. Doncic will almost certainly ask the Lakers for that no-trade clause, and while that doesn’t seem like a problem at face value, it will absolutely hurt their flexibility.
Obviously, the Lakers don’t seem like they’ll be interested in trading Doncic anytime soon (if ever), but handing out no-trade clauses should be a thing of the past. Bradley Beal proved that. And though Doncic’s future contract may never be as bad as Beal’s, it’s a dangerous game for the Lakers to play.
And they may be forced to play it.
Why would a no-trade clause for Luka Doncic be bad?
No-trade clauses are dangerous. They eliminate any leverage a team may have when moving a player. Just this summer, the Suns were effectively forced to waive and stretch Beal because nobody wanted his contract.
Marc Stein of the Stein Line broke down exactly how Doncic can get a no-trade clause in his next deal with the Lakers:
“Dončić will be eligible to have a full no-trade clause added to his next deal as long as he goes to unrestricted free agency and signs an all-new contract. NBA players can only become eligible for a full no-trade clause with eight years of service time and four with the same team. No-trade clauses, however, can only be added to a new contract; league rules preclude them from being added to extensions.”
Since Doncic has a player option at the end of his current deal, he will be able to become a free agent and then sign a contract with a no-trade clause in it.
Again, it seems very likely that Doncic’s future contract will never be as bad as Beal’s. But nothing is impossible. And giving Doncic a no-trade clause would put the Lakers in a very awkward position. Doncic would have all the power.
Most of the scenarios in which Doncic’s contract would be bad enough that the no-trade clause is an issue would involve his game falling off a cliff by the end of his 20s.
That seems extremely unlikely.
But nothing is impossible.
What if Doncic doesn’t keep the weight off? What if his play style truly can’t translate to championships in a crowded West? What if the Lakers fail to build around him?
In all likelihood, Doncic potentially getting a no-trade clause in his next deal will be a non-issue because he’ll be the face of the franchise. However, no-trade clauses are risky, no matter the player and situation.