The Lakers were in a bind with LeBron James earlier in the summer as he wants to win now. However, they are more concerned with building with Luka Doncic, the recently traded All-Star made it known he wants to be in James' timeline as well.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka confirmed as much at Saturday's press conference to announce Luka Doncic's three-year extension worth $165 million. The Lakers will be searching for a new co-star to pair with the superstar point guard. Pelinka hinted as to why the franchise has been prioritizing their financial flexibility.

The Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a three-year, $165 million contract extension with star point guard Luka Doncic on Saturday. The deal includes a player option for 2028, positioning Doncic to potentially sign another max contract before he turns 30,