The Los Angeles Lakers’ unclear future is a growing source of concern as the regular season draws to a close. The Lakers’ most pressing concern is “What will LeBron James do next?” It is believed by NBA Insider Brian Windhorst that LeBron will not exercise his $51.4 million player option for the upcoming season in favor of a no-trade clause in his contract. LeBron James may be open to agreeing to a three-year, $162 million supermax agreement this summer, according to reports. Contrary to popular opinion, the Lakers may actually benefit from LeBron declining that option.
Without a doubt, LeBron is one of the NBA’s top stars at 39 years old. He is capable of revitalizing and maintaining the relevance of any franchise on his own. However, LeBron’s 21-year career has shown that having him on your team comes with a great deal of extra pressure. With LeBron on the club, front offices find it challenging to retain their independence since he expects a say in how the team will develop in the hopes of winning a championship. LeBron has even been dubbed “LeGM” due to his regular participation in club decisions. LeBron James will not have to re-sign with the Lakers, so Rob Pelinka and company won’t be under as much pressure to assemble a roster that fits his needs.
If LeBron remains, the Lakers will have to make sure he’s satisfied. That can mean giving up a few of their potential assets. The Lakers acquired Anthony Davis in 2019 by trading a number of future talents, including Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball, and Brandon Ingram. Their post-LeBron future was further put in jeopardy when they were forced to part with three first-round picks.
“I’m running out of time, but I’m not sure when that door will close.”LeBron said this following his 40-point game over Brooklyn. At 39 years old, LeBron doesn’t have many more excellent seasons in which to challenge for a championship. LeBron’s “win now mentality” is one of the reasons the Lakers might gain from him walking away from the $162 million contract. Because of this, the Lakers have had to trade him frequently since obtaining him in an effort to swiftly assemble a championship squad. 2020 was a big success, but the subsequent seasons have been a complete bust.
LeBron might retire and leave the Lakers in the dust if he stays and the team doesn’t win a championship in the next two to three years. The Lakers won’t have many resources left to rebuild their club once LeBron leaves if they accept his possible no-trade clause.
