Overview

• ESPN moved the Lakers to No. 8 in its future power rankings, up from No. 21, citing February’s Dončić trade, his August extension, the Los Angeles market and projected cap space.
• Dončić agreed on Aug. 2 to a three-year, $165 million extension that runs through at least 2027–28 with a 2028 opt-out and a widely expected path to a potential supermax then, per reporting.
• The franchise’s positioning also factors in incoming majority owner Mark Walter and the potential for Dončić’s star power to attract additional talent, according to analysis.
• After the midseason move, Dončić averaged 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists while improving his conditioning this summer and starring for Slovenia at EuroBasket.
• In a Wall Street Journal interview, Dončić said he would be open to finishing his career with Real Madrid, while separate reports discuss speculative NBA Europe concepts with no confirmed timeline.