LeBron James opted in with the Lakers, a one-year deal for his record 23rd season that pays more than $52 million for what would be his eighth year in Los Angeles.
James lived his stated longevity dream of teaming with son Bronny on the court with the Lakers last season and helped L.A.’s push to the playoffs as a co-star of Luka Dončić.
He said the goal remains a championship, and his primary purpose for playing.
But even LeBron seems certain the best chance for a Larry O’Brien Trophy won’t be in Los Angeles.
In the words of his agent, Rich Paul, James “knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that. But he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We’re very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie (Buss) and Rob (Pelinka) and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
There are a lot of signals wrapped in one series of sentences from Paul, who said nothing about James being part of the future or the franchise. The neon undertones of the snapshot Paul is sharing inform other teams James would be available — and interested.
A team with under-25 restricted free agents — Golden State with Jonathan Kuminga, the Chicago Bulls with Josh Giddey, and 76ers breakout star Quentin Grimes — and draft capital might be the ideal trade partner for the Lakers if they indeed opted to part with James.
The Warriors are already the NBA’s AARP ad with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler. We all felt the bromance connection James and Curry had on Team USA in Paris last summer and on All-Star Game stages before that.
Would Golden State contend with that literal graybeard grouping? I can’t see this lineup outlasting the Thunder in a seven-minute game, let alone a seven-game series.
Chicago is nowhere near contending. Moving Giddey, who is not a premium scorer but can stir the drink as a playmaking and rebounding point guard, makes all the sense in the world for the Bulls if the sign-and-trade brings a younger centerpiece who can pair with Coby White and shift the franchise out of perpetual playoff play-in range.
Grimes is an interesting case but also the type of piece that would be more attractive to teams outside of Philadelphia, simply based on Daryl Morey’s track record for stacking superstars. Adding James near the end of his career with Joel Embiid coming off another knee surgery and Paul George far from a certainty, given his track record, stacks up as a nothing burger for the 76ers.
Maybe you can picture James in Memphis, but I’m not sure that’s happening. Would he play second or third fiddle for the Wolves? At what cost to Minnesota?
It’s not that James is unwanted. It’s that the timing — and the numbers — won’t add up to make it work.
Sure, James might get a text from old friends Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra about a reunion on South Beach. But which of these moves actually puts LeBron closer to that one-more-championship yearning?
