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Other than improving at the center position and plugging their guard and wing depth, the Los Angeles Lakers have to make sure LeBron James returns to the team for his 23rd NBA season. While he was non-committal following their playoff exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves when it came to his immediate future, many expect him to be back this fall.
He has a player option for the 2025-26 campaign, which he can turn down to become a free agent this summer in order to sign a new, slightly longer contract. He can, of course, simply decide to play out his current deal, whether he retires in a year or not.
But there are those who feel the Lakers need to let him leave for their own good. Former NBA player Rashad McCants said in an exclusive interview with Basketball Insiders that the team should trade the 40-year-old superstar (h/t Ahn Fire Digital).
“100% get rid of LeBron, bring in some young assets,” McCants said. “He still has enough energy to go out there and warrant some good players for him. You get rid of GM Rob Pelinka, you might have to move Austin Reaves. You really might have to really start over completely, because Luka [Doncic] is uncertain whether he’s even going to re-sign.”
He feels that if James sticks around, it would prevent other superstars from coming to Los Angeles.
“You don’t want to build around LeBron still being there, holding up other superstars from coming,” said McCants. “The best scenario is to start fresh. If you’re going to start fresh with Luka, the first thing you need to do is get enough pieces defensively that’s going to help.”
McCants even seemed to allude to the controversy over James and his son, Bronny, playing in the same organization.
“They have to, because the nostalgia of the storyline is depleted,” said McCants. “The Disney storyline of father-son, all the points in the world, all that s— is played out. At this point now where we’re looking at, where do the Lakers go after the circus is over? Now that the circus is over, you either have to start over, or you have to bring in new lions and tigers and bears in. They don’t have a pick, they don’t have assets that can be moved that can get quality players. They’re kind of stuck.”
If the Lakers were to decide to move on from James, it wouldn’t be easy to move him. For one thing, he has a rare no-trade clause, which would allow him to practically choose his destination. He would want to play on a team with enough talent remaining to help him contend for the NBA championship, which may mean the Lakers wouldn’t get enough in return.
Another team may not even offer them much in return, given that James is close to the end of his career.
Given the Lakers’ need for a second superstar next to Doncic, as well as how much money James brings to them financially, it’s safe to say that if James wants to stay with them, he will.
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