Lakers’ Luka Doncic Could Leave to Pair With Nikola Jokic, Nuggets

Anthony Davis is a great player, certainly one of the best to ever lace them up. There isn’t a doubt that he’ll eventually be in the Hall of Fame, but from the Los Angeles Lakers’ perspective, trading for Luka Doncic made plenty of sense. The Lakers needed help, and they found it by adding one of the best players in the league. 

It’s a tough reality of this trade for the Dallas Mavericks, but Doncic is a much better player than Davis at this stage of his career. 

Could Luka Part Ways With the Lakers Already?

While this was the right move from the Los Angeles Lakers, some have suggested that they could move on from Doncic sooner rather than later. It’s also possible that Doncic could leave in free agency during the 2026 offseason, as he might not love being in Los Angeles, as crazy as that might sound. 

If Doncic decides to leave, there will be many teams interested, and Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report recently named the Denver Nuggets as one of them. 

“Jokic does have a strong relationship with the Lakers’ star (Luka Doncic),” Pincus wrote. “The thinking is that Doncic isn’t the kind of player who prioritizes living in a big city like Los Angeles.”

“Even if Doncic does sign an extension this offseason, Denver might be able to jump in at the right time should Doncic eventually become unhappy in L.A. The Nuggets recently hired former Dallas Mavericks guard JJ Barea as an assistant coach. He earned the position on many levels, but he is also close with Doncic, just as Dorian Finney-Smith was…

“The Nuggets may not have as many titles as the Lakers, but the basketball attraction between Doncic and Jokic as teammates works both ways. The Nuggets may not have the draft compensation now to make that kind of deal, but in a few years, perhaps they will find a way to stock up.”

A Potential Superstar Pairing in Denver

Pincus wasn’t the first one to suggest that the Los Angeles Lakers could lose Doncic, as FanSided also proposed the idea of him leaving for the Denver Nuggets. Doncic and Nuggets star Nikola Jokic have a great relationship, which could create a potential duo. After some of the moves the Nuggets have made in free agency and the offseason, trading for Cam Johnson, and making a few important signings, there’s no doubt that they’re a much better team than the Lakers on paper. 

“This also creates a scenario where Luka could leave LA as a free agent after next season. He no longer has any financial incentive to remain with his current team and could hit unrestricted free agency and choose any team he wants in the summer of 2026.

“Sure, star players don’t often leave the Lakers voluntarily, but this is a new era and anything can happen. LeBron James is getting long in the tooth and it’s unclear what the team’s plan is beyond that. Doncic is not an American celebrity either; we have no idea what his priorities are when choosing his next team,” they wrote.

Even if it takes until 2026, it’s tough to ignore the potential that the duo would have. Doncic and Jokic are arguably the two best offensive players in the game, making the pairing an exciting one to consider.