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Ric Flair explains why he has been calling out Luka Doncic

The LA Lakers ended their 2025-2026 NBA campaign on Monday night, falling to the OKC Thunder to complete a sweep of the Western Conference semifinals. The series did not see the Lakers’ leading scorer, Luka Doncic, due to a hamstring injury, leaving LeBron James and Austin Reaves to take the cudgels. 

Doncic, who is seen as the face of the Lakers for the foreseeable future, dropped important hints about James, Reaves, and their center Deandre Ayton’s future with the team. The three will enter free agency in the offseason if Ayton declines his player option.  

“We’ll see. Can’t tell you nothing,” Doncic said while laughing in front of the media. 

James, Reaves, and Ayton have been Doncic’s supporting cast throughout the season, his first full one with the Lakers since being traded from the Dallas Mavericks last February 2025. 

James’ contact will expire this season as retirement talks continue to creep in. Reaves is expected to be the Lakers’ top priority in free agency.

Rui Hachimura, Luke Kennard, Maxi Kleber, and Jaxson Hayes will also be free agents in the offseason, leaving a lot of decisions on the table for the Lakers. Marcus Smart, who has been the team’s de facto starting point guard in the NBA playoffs, will also have a player option in the offseason. 

The Lakers will have one of the biggest cap spaces entering the offseason, allowing them the chance to sign big-name free agents come summer. 

Former NBA Champion Forward A Target For The Lakers

GettyMiami Heat forward Andrew Wiggins is still deciding whether or not he will opt in to the $30.16 million player option for the 2026-27 season.

As the Lakers lick the wounds of their defeat in the playoffs, they will be looking to upgrade their forward rotation. 

In a report of ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers are eyeing Miami Heat’s Andrew Wiggins, a former NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, on top of other forwards from Eastern Conference teams. 

“An unrestricted free agent who has been discussed internally, sources told ESPN, is Andrew Wiggins, but he has a player option with Miami he could exercise,” his report wrote. “Tobias Harris, Quentin Grimes and Dean Wade are other players who fit that profile,” 

McMenamin added that the Lakers could add Houston Rockets’ forward Tari Eason and Denver Nuggets’ Payton Watson.

“The Lakers have also privately discussed restricted free agents Tari Eason and Peyton Watson, sources told ESPN,” he wrote. 

On top of these names, the Lakers are also involved in trade rumors for two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo as the Bucks opened their lines for the Greek Freak. 

Luka Doncic Gets Candid On Missing the NBA Playoffs

GettyLuka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Four of the Second Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena on May 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

Luka Doncic expressed frustration with his absence from the NBA playoffs, saying that he would have been helping his teammates if only he is 100%. 

“It’s very frustrating. I know some people wanted me back,” Doncic said after Game 4. “But obviously, I wasn’t close to clearing. There was some stuff in the media that went out that wasn’t true. If I could be out there, I would be 100%.”

Doncic is expected to focus on recovery in the offseason as the Lakers navigate the next few months, restructuring the roster.