Leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline, rumors began to swirl that the Los Angeles Lakers could trade future Hall-of-Famer LeBron James. While they were just rumors, it certainly sparked the conversation on how much longer James would stay with the Lakers, or continue playing at all, for that matter.
Fast forward, and the Lakers made the blockbuster trade that brought Luka Doncic to LA. Doncic will be the face of the Los Angeles Lakers moving forward, but does that still leave room for James to continue his career with the Purple and Gold?
Bleacher Report just released their list of Biggest Flight Risks For Every Team, and for the Lakers, they did indeed name LeBron James.
LeBron James Named Biggest Flight Risk For Los Angeles Lakers
It would make a lot of sense for James to finish his career in LA with the Lakers. His family has built a life in Los Angeles, his son Bronny also plays for the Lakers, and the pairing of him and Doncic makes the team viable Championship contenders.
However, that is not all that factors in.
“Upon trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic, it seemed like the LeBron James era might be coming to a close for the Los Angeles Lakers,” Eric Pincus writes. Instead, James and Doncic have developed instant on-court chemistry together. The younger star may help prolong James’ already historic 22-year career.”
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As I was saying, as long as the Lakers want him, it really would not make much sense to go elsewhere. However, Pincus continues.
“James has a $52.6 million player option. He can opt out to leave or stay, possibly at a price that better helps the Lakers add to a potential championship-level roster. It’s a stretch to imagine him leaving for teams like the Nets or Pistons, but it’s up to James to decide.”
At this point in his career, or really since the beginning, money should not be much of a factor in his decision-making. Ultimately, it will come down to where he is most comfortable and where he has the best chance to win.
The Lakers can check both of those boxes, especially if they had an All-Star caliber big man.