Luka Doncic took a team to the NBA Finals last season. The 2025 NBA Playoffs were supposed to be an audition for the Los Angeles Lakers to prove the long-term potential of their union with Doncic. Instead, it was an embarrassing shortcoming for a team billed as contenders before the postseason.

What is obvious now is just how flawed the 50-win team that went into the playoffs was. The Lakers exposed a lot of big holes that need to be patched up before this team can truly consider themselves a real championship contender.

That will be an important part of this upcoming offseason. However, the focal point of what Rob Pelinka must accomplish is still focused on Doncic himself.

As things stand with Luka's current contract, 2025-26 is the last guaranteed season the Lakers superstar has on his deal before a player option for the 2026-27 campaign. ESPN's Bobby Marks has already explained the most lucrative option for Doncic this offseason will be a shorter extension that can eventually lead to a larger one down the line.

"[What is] more likely: a three-year, $165 million extension that includes a player option in the third year," Marks wrote. "The short-term extension allows Doncic to reenter free agency sooner and potentially recoup the $345 million he lost when he was traded from the Mavericks."

The question that Pelinka needs to be asking himself is whether the premature playoff exit hurt their chances of having Doncic as a Laker for life from here on out. The short answer is probably not. However, that is not without some skepticism.

The newest Lakers superstar told Malika Andrews that he intends to stick around in Los Angeles following the blockbuster trade from that landed him in Hollywood via the Dallas Mavericks. Jovan Buha of The Athletic wrote on Friday that Doncic 'is widely expected to commit to a long-term Lakers future at some point.'

The unease comes from some of the comments like Luka saying he hasn't thought about it yet. In all fairness, Doncic did explain the focus has been on basketball, with now finally being the opportunity for the five-time All-NBA member will sit down and process.

NBA insider Dave McMenamin wrote, "Sources close to Doncic say he will take his time with his decision."

Statements like that will add to the discomfort that some in Laker land may feel. However, there is ultimately nothing that suggests the Slovenian superstar and the Lakers front office do not eventually get some sort of deal done. It may just take some deep exhales to ease the anxiety for fans in Hollywood until that notification finally pops up on their phone.