The dream of the reality of the reality of the Lakers to attract an old MVP to roll with Luka Donnicic
Are the Lakers ready to lose two years from Dončić’s career, including one with James, to wait until Jokić became a free agent in 2027? What about the “2027 plan” which seems to buzz around the Fanverse Lakers?
The objective would be to take advantage of the ceiling room available in 2027. If Denver is weakening this season and Jokić finds himself disillusioned by the management of the Nuggets, he could do what most NBA stars do when they are unhappy – for a job.
Given that he can withdraw from his contract after 2026-27, the threat of completing his agreement and leaving for the Lakers – which could have the power of spending in 2027 to sign it as a free agent, leaving Denver without anything – is why there is a 2027 plan.
Hope is that Jokić’s link with Dončić is the reason why he chooses the Lakers. Denver would get most of what Lakers have in terms of young players and remuneration.
Austin Reaves has a sufficiently low ceiling as a free agent that it could absorb Jokić in the ceiling room, then pay Reaves more than $ 30 million per season while keeping Dončić. Then Dončić would theoretically sign an extension with the Lakers when he became eligible in August.
Is it a viable plan? The obvious answer is “not at all”. Again, the Lakers landed Dončić, just as they landed Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Pau Gasol, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain in different similar ways.
From the point of view of the Lakers, if the trade for Jokić does not work, they will simply go to Giannis Antetokounmpo instead.
