As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to meet the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs, the futures of several of their key players past this season remain uncertain. The biggest domino to fall in that regard is, of course, what LeBron James will do.
He will become a free agent after the conclusion of the playoffs, and while he may not retire, it is anyone’s guess whether he will remain with the Lakers or join another team. While people have felt at times this season that it is likely he will leave, perhaps to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, there seems to be a growing feeling that the likeliest outcome is James saying put.
Brian Windhorst, who has covered James since the superstar was in high school, broke down the financial realities that could result in James still wearing a Purple and Gold jersey this fall.
“I have specifically spoken to people on both sides of the negotiation, without trying to get into the weeds,” Windhorst said. “I’ve specifically had this discussion, ‘What do you think his value is in the 2026-27 NBA landscape, what is his value?’ Knowing that there’s no teams with cap space out there that are come in and say, ‘LeBron, here’s $35 million to play for us.’ Yeah, the [Golden State] Warriors or the Cavs or team X would take him for the Mid-Level Exception or the minimum. Of course. But there’s no team out there that’s going to clear $35 million or $40 million out and say, ‘LeBron, come to us.’ So, who are the Lakers bidding against? I talk to both sides, and I don’t hear an answer.”
While the Warriors and Cavaliers will likely be extremely limited in how much money they can offer the four-time MVP, Los Angeles is expected to have roughly $50 million in salary cap space this offseason.
Windhorst also stated that James, who is making $52.6 million this season, will need to make some sort of a decision on his Lakers future before free agency even begins.
“LeBron’s gonna have to decide whether he wants to be a Laker and what he wants to play for by June 15,” Windhorst added. “And if he doesn’t decide it, and if he’s like, ‘I still need time,’ the Lakers, to a certain extent, are going to have to move on.”
Whether James has any real desire to stay with the Lakers, or, for that matter, whether the Lakers even want him back, will, to a large extent, dictate what the team does in terms of personnel moves this summer. If James walks, the team will have to replace the positive skill sets he brings, most specifically, his playmaking and his ability to create pace and fast-break opportunities.
He averaged 20.9 points on 51.5% field-goal shooting, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists a game during the regular season, and he even led the NBA in fast-break points per game. The 41-year-old has shifted back to being L.A.’s primary scoring threat with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves injured, and he has looked every bit as spry and productive as he did in previous seasons.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Windhorst: Lakers may be bidding against themselves for LeBron James
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
