Are the Lakers under pressure to get Luka Dončić to sign an extension?

With Luka Dončić able to opt out of his contract after the 2025-2026 season, how much should the Lakers worry about their new star leaving?

On the show “Mad Men,” Don Draper once said, “The day you sign a client is the day you start losing them.”

When the Lakers traded for Luka Dončić, they inherited his contract and the questions that come with it. Are you willing to offer him an extension? Do you fear him walking away to go elsewhere?

When posed with these types of problems, general manager Nico Harrison and the Dallas Mavericks clearly decided it was in their best interest to move on from the 25-year-old superstar.

Now, the Lakers have a new important date on their summer calendar: August 2, which is the date they hope Dončić will sign a contract extension. If he does not, then Luka can opt out after the 2025-26 NBA season and head into unrestricted free agency.

It’s a date that will grow in importance the nearer it comes. And it’s going to become a talking point, too. On Thursday, Brian Windhorst appeared on First Take and suggested the Lakers are under pressure to get Luka to sign his extension, though he based it on some interesting logic.

So, how much pressure should the Lakers feel getting Luka to sign this extension? How damaging would it be if he walks away for nothing in two summers or if the Lakers have to shop him around during the next trade deadline since he doesn’t want to commit?

This is one of the reasons Lakers vice president of basketball operations reportedly didn’t want to give up both firsts in the Luka deal. As implausible as the thought of Dončić leaving is, to some Lakers fans, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

So far, Luka has said plenty of encouraging things regarding this matter. At his introductory presser, he repeatedly called the Lakers the “best club in the world,” to borrow some vocabulary from his European upbringing. Even as recently as Wednesday, after the team lost to the Hornets, he repeated that sentiment.

“Moving forward, I’m happy to be here, man,” Luka said. “This is one of the greatest clubs in the world. I’m just happy to be here, like I said. Obviously, I’m going to need some time, but I’m happy to represent the Lakers.”

It’s also been reported that Luka has been impressed with how quickly the Lakers traded for the type of center he wanted in Mark Williams, even if the deal was ultimately rescinded.

Historically, the Lakers have often been the team that has been able to take stars from other teams while retaining their talent. Even so, there have been a few anomalies, like Dwight Howard leaving Los Angeles for Houston back in 2013.

We don’t know if Luka intends to sign the extension with the Lakers, but during his introductory press conference, he mentioned that he gave zero indication that he wouldn’t have signed the supermax with Dallas.

We’ll soon find out if his answer will change now that the supermax is off the table and his home has changed from Dallas to Los Angeles.

For now, the Lakers can only continue to try to compete in the West and give Luka all the support he needs to make this summer decision an easy one that bodes well for their future.

There will be inherent pressure until the pen meets the paper and Luka signs the extension. But, so far, all signs point to the Lakers not losing their new client.

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.