The Los Angeles Lakers have had a strange summer when it comes to figuring out where LeBron James’ mindset is. James has always been the face of every franchise he’s played for, but with Luka Dončić now on the squad, it no longer seems like he holds that status in Los Angeles.
“He’s still that good. I don’t think it’s his last year, but the fact that the Lakers did not discuss a 1-in-1, or a 2-in-1, or contracts beyond this year with him. They just let him sit back… that tells you a lot. It’s not in his control with LA,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said.
This uncertainty has led to trade rumors swirling, especially since the Lakers appear to be on a different timeline than James.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
While trade talks have cooled, questions still linger about whether James will finish the season in L.A. Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes is skeptical.
“The anointment of Luka Dončic, the failure to reach an offseason extension, the refusal of the front office to go all-in for rotation help this past summer—all of it points to a LeBron James exit. While it’s true James has non-basketball reasons to remain based in L.A., it’s still hard to imagine him accepting status as something other than the most important figure in the franchise for a full year. Especially if the Lakers aren’t a top-flight contender,” Hughes wrote.
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There are teams that would gladly build around James and allow him to reclaim a central role. At the moment, he doesn’t seem fully content with his current situation. James has never been traded in his career — but this season could be the first time.
