Report: Luka Doncic's $10.1M Contract Option for 2021-22 Exercised by Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks have exercised Luka Doncic's $10.1 million, fourth-year team option for the 2021-22 season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. 

Given that Doncic is a legitimate MVP candidate heading into this season, the move comes as hardly a surprise. 

Doncic, 21, finished fourth in the MVP voting last season after averaging 28.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 8.8 assists per game, shooting 46.3 percent from the field and 31.6 percent from three. He led the Dallas Mavericks to the postseason, where they were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Clippers.

Next offseason, Doncic will be eligible to sign a five-year, designated rookie extension for 25 percent of the salary cap that could rise to 30 percent if he hits one of the following benchmarks:

• Named to an All-NBA team in the most recent season before signing the extension, or in two of the three seasons before signing the extension.
• Named Defensive Player of the Year in the most recent season, or in two of the three seasons before signing the extension.
• Named Most Valuable Player in any of the three seasons before signing the extension.

Doncic was a 2019-20 first-team All-NBA selection, making him a favorite to be an All-NBA pick yet again in the 2020-21 season. It would be a surprise if he doesn't sign a five-year deal at 30 percent of the cap. 

The key for the Mavericks now is building a contender around him. Kristaps Porzingis is an excellent running mate (when he's healthy), while the Mavs have a nice supporting cast in Josh Richardson, Maxi Kleber, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Dorian Finney-Smith, among others.

Dallas isn't a title contender to this point, though they look likely to have cap space ahead of next summer, when quite a few stars could hit the market. Big things appear to be on the horizon for the Mavericks, and it all starts with Doncic.