ESPN: “Not offering LeBron a contract…abundantly clear his time as face of Lakers had…a planned end date…The trade for Doncic…Lakers prioritizing someone else's future. James has never been in a situation like this…plot twist even he didn't see coming”https://t.co/10MY67Xd1l pic.twitter.com/iPd1oGw7lW— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) July 11, 2025
FROM THE ABOVE ARTICLE:
James understood the Lakers taking advantage of an opportunity to pivot to the younger superstar. But from James’ perspective, sources said, nuance was sometimes lost during the transition. Doncic had never asked to be a Laker. James, for his part, had chosen L.A., coming in 2018 when the team had missed the playoffs five consecutive seasons, the worst run for the franchise since it moved from Minneapolis. Two years later, James had helped deliver a 17th championship.
Paul also had to formally inform the Lakers that James intended to pick up the final year of his contract after the team did not engage in any substantial discussions about extending him by a year or two, sources said, as they had twice previously during James’ Lakers’ tenure. It was then that he let the organization know about the coming statement.
The Lakers had already made their statement in not offering James a contract beyond this season. It was abundantly clear that the 21-time All-Star’s time as the face of the Lakers had, for the first time, a planned end date, even if James’ record-setting NBA career did not yet.
Whether the 2025-26 season is to be James’ final season in the NBA is up to him. But if he wanted the kind of Hollywood ending that only the Lakers can give legends of the game, the release date was set.
Spring, 2026.
Luka Doncic in, LeBron James out.
…
Ahhh the supposition continues! Love all the ridiculous hyperbole. Know what cracks me up the most? Everyone, out in the media and here on the blog spent every summer for the last 4 years hoping, begging, praying, sacrificing first-born children to the basketball gods that Anthony Davis would do this exact thing: Take. The. Fucking. Torch.
Now we get a player that can, will and probably already has aaaaaaaand…boy is it a problem. Big, big problem. Sometimes Lakers fans just can’t help but lose their minds over the mist ridiculous bullshit ever. This, my friends, is ridiculous.
I agree that usually these things are just smoke with no fire but considering what’s already happened this summer, a LeBron trade would not surprise me at all.
Bottom line, the Lakers would love to be able to get something for LeBron instead of letting him walk for nothing. I don’t think it’s going to happen but the lid has been lifted from the impossible happening now.
Teams are doing crazy things right now because it’s anybody’s championship next season and everybody knows there are multiple possible dynasties emerging.
Not a good time for conservative projections, Jamie.
Not a projection, conservative or otherwise. Just looking at the facts available to everyone. Any contending team would have to utterly gut their roster-not happening for a 41 year old, no matter how good he is. Same goes for draft picks.
Teams have been doing what they needed to do: Phoenix moved their easiest, costliest asset. Houston paid a fair price for it and will likely contend if KD stays healthy. Milwaukee did the same with Dame, they freed up space to build around Giannis.. Same goes for Boston, all moves were made to get under the 2nd apron.
Lakers are under the 2nd apron, there are no wacky moves. LeBron picked up his option because he knows what the Lakers know: nobody was going to pay him that amount this summer. No contenders had room, and I’m sure Rich Paul knew that none would fit the roster to accommodate him in a sign and trade.
In short, these aren’t projections dude. This is simple, empirical data. The Lakers were literally the only team that had what matters to James: space to accommodate his salary, his son in the roster, and a chance to win. The level of BS being shoveled around the inter webs because of Rich Paul’s carbon copy from every 3-4 year statement is beyond funny to me.
So planning for the future, when your star is north of 40, is not prudent? If LeBron wants out because of it, grant him a trade. If he wants to retire a Laker, that’s great, and they get his cap space when he’s done. They’re in a lot better shape than after the the Kobe farewell.