Lakerholics

A Lakers Fan Community

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

    1. Retirement?

    The buzz has James going one more year, to get his flowers on the way out. Still, not everyone needs a farewell tour, and he may choose to retire after the 2025-26 campaign.

    2. Don’t Completely Write off the Lakers

    Still, Plan A may not bear fruit. If the Lakers strike out on their top goals, they could delay until 2027. If so, perhaps James returns for one final goodbye, farewell tour, etc. It may not be L.A.’s primary goal, but it’ll sell tickets while giving James a proper sendoff.

    3. Back Home to Cleveland (or Another Contender)

    Other teams in similar situations that are thought to appeal to James are the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks. The Cavaliers and Knicks are among the Eastern Conference contenders. The Golden State Warriors have struggled to stay healthy, but the Steph Curry/James combination would be something to see.

    4. Sign-and-Trade Difficult/Unlikely

    Realistically, it’s a long shot as the Lakers (assuming they’re moving on from James) have goals in mind to bolster a Luka Dončić-led roster. James could be the primary outgoing salary for a star like Giannis Antetokounmpo, but James is unlikely to choose the Bucks as his next destination (especially with Antetokounmpo departing). A third team could be the answer, the one James desires, but it’s complicated enough that it’s among the least likely options.

    5. Las Vegas Bound

    Beyond James’ next team as a player, there’s a rumor going around the league that he will be the face of the NBA’s expansion team in Las Vegas.

    One line of thinking is that he might retire, and his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, might sell the rest of his agency to UTA (United Talent Agency). With financial backing, they then might look to step into ownership roles.

    It’s important to note the NBA has not decided on expansion, let alone which cities. If Vegas is among the most likely destinations (along with Seattle), the league will let multiple candidates pitch locations.

    Rumors are fun, sometimes true, but it’s too early to put weight into this one. Still, it’s been bouncing around for several years and is worth keeping an eye on.

    Retirement may or may not come at the end of the season. He could return home to finish in Cleveland, join Steph Curry in Golden State, or help give New York a run at its first title since 1973.

    Even if James decides to continue, he has acknowledged that he doesn’t have much time left as a player. Perhaps that leads to an NBA governorship, whether in Las Vegas or elsewhere—it wouldn’t be wise to bet against him finding success in his next venture beyond playing basketball.

Leave a Reply