NBA executives warn Lakers that Luka Doncic will join the Nuggets if the new season fails

According to reports from Vishvisha Kumar, a contributor to US sports media F/W. The Lakers' bet on Doncic may be in progress. With James’ future uncertain, the Lakers reportedly focused on building a championship team by 2026 or 2027, and a rival Western Conference executive has sounded a wake-up call warning that if the Lakers fail to compete for the championship in the new season, they could lose Doncic and turn to a rising force: the Denver Nuggets.

According to ClutchPoints' Irving, the comment has a sharp realist tone: "The Lakers have to be careful. Luca just got kicked the ass by the team he handled easily last year, and now they tell him to wait another year before he can actually play. If Denver wins everything or is close to winning, and it is clear that he doesn't believe in Luca and LeBron as a combination, they could pose a real threat to him in the next season or two."

The executive refers to the rapid offseason action in Denver. After suffering from injury troubles and a mediocre performance in the 2025 playoffs, the Nuggets traded Porter Jr for Johnson and built one of their most balanced rosters to date. Valanciunas signed on as the bench, while veterans Bruce Brown and Hardaway Jr. accepted the minimum contract to join the team. These moves suggest that Denver is in “winning now” mode, which may lay the foundation for something bigger.

26-year-old Doncic is eligible to sign a three-year contract with the Lakers worth $165 million or a four-year contract worth $229 million. Multiple reports suggest that Los Angeles is confident he will start writing, and they intend to pair him with another star or a possible superstar in 2026, where they will have the largest cap space. Names like Antetokounmpo and Jokic have surfaced, although more of a dream than a reality. However, while the Lakers look to the future, the Nuggets are already building a lineup that allows Doncic to think twice before doing it.

Although the pair Doncic and James are elite on paper, questions remain about whether it will last for a long time. James will be 41 years old and although still valid, his future in Los Angeles remains undecided. Apart from signing Ayton and keeping Hayes, the team's summer was relatively calm, both of which were related to Doncic's agency. Meanwhile, Doncic is training in Slovenia to prepare for the European basketball championship.

As the team position itself as the core of the team, the Lakers cannot drop the ball this year. Denver already has a foundation and culture, and can be said to be Jokic, the best player in the league. If Doncic enters the market or gets tired of long-term games in Los Angeles, Denver could be a real threat. Pelinka reportedly holds future draft picks such as 2031 and 2032 first-round picks, and he is unwilling to give up on them unless the title-competing pieces are on the table. This patience may pay off, but it may also test Doncic's patience. A source reported:

"Luca shouldn't renew his contract this offseason. I'm not saying he should leave the Lakers. I'm saying he doesn't have a good reason to renew his contract. He's been there for six months. What has the Lakers done so far to prove that they are the best team for him? He didn't choose to go there."

There is no doubt that Doncic has not publicly expressed any frustration. He is said to be happy with the organization, his agent has a connection to the locker room, and people are optimistic that he will sign the short-term contract soon. But as the West becomes tougher, time passes. If the Lakers are not real contenders in the 2025-26 season, then rival teams and front desks are ready to raid. The Nuggets have already acted like contenders. The Lakers still plan to be one of them. In the NBA, this difference can mean everything.