As the Los Angeles Lakers navigate the delicate terrain of unrestricted free agency with LeBron James and Austin Reaves, Luka Doncic has provided guidance on how they should proceed. Doncic has reportedly been in contact with both James and Reaves, but has not made any promises about what the future may entail.
The Lakers should follow that exact path moving forward as they search for ways to optimize an offseason that must produce drastic changes to a deeply flawed roster.
James and Reaves are tremendous talents that would undoubtedly help Los Angeles build toward improving upon a 53-win season and a postseason series win. The NBA is a salary-capped league, however, and their contracts could thus prohibit the Lakers' offseason mobility—making the loss of one or even both players a distinct possibility.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Doncic has been in communication with James and Reaves ahead of free agency, but isn't attempting to sell them on returning to Los Angeles.
"A source close to Doncic told ESPN that Doncic has kept in touch with James and Reaves since the season ended but hasn't pitched either player on returning to L.A. Most of their conversations, the source said, revolve around golf, as Doncic took up the sport in February and has bonded with his fellow links-obsessed teammates over it."
That's the best way for Doncic and the Lakers to handle free agency, as they need to keep James and Reaves within the proverbial inner circle without necessarily promising to re-sign them.
Luka "in touch with James and Reaves," not pitching them on returning
One of the issues that reportedly caused friction between James and the Lakers in 2025 was how limited the communication was from Rob Pelinka leading up to the player option deadline. James ultimately opted in, but it was reported that Pelinka hadn't discussed his future with the team ahead of the career-altering commitment.
If nothing else, the Lakers can avoid a repeat of said conflict by simply keeping James and Reaves apprised of their activity and intentions in free agency.
Their cap holds certainly complicate matters, but Los Angeles still has a degree of flexibility to work with. They must utilize said opportunity to spend on free agents and take salary back in to improve a roster that lacked ideal depth, let alone the desired balance in the starting lineup.
With seven of the top nine players in minutes per game in 2025-26 eligible for unrestricted free agency, the Lakers will thus need to make significant financial commitments across the board.
That means James and Reaves' hefty projected salaries could be as prohibitive as they are justifiable. Los Angeles only has one full-time 2025-26 starter guaranteed to return next season, and all of Rui Hachimura, James, and Reaves could command significant pay days. Thankfully, Doncic has provided the blueprint for buying time as the offseason takes shape.
If the Lakers simply stay in contact with James and Reaves, inform them of their offseason activities, and then come back with the numbers they believe are justifiable for them, the odds should improve dramatically of amicable negotiations.
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