LeBron's role change is when the Lakers hand over the franchise to Luka Doncic

The Los Angeles Lakers officially announced over the weekend that Luka Doncic was the cornerstone of their franchise, signed a three-year, $165 million extension.

LeBron James was clearly absent when teammates showed up at his press conference to support the 26-year-old star.

This absence and the Lakers' organizational hub from James to Doncic have intensified speculation about the 40-year-old's next.

Shams Charania reported that despite the optical elements, James was still on the way to the team and talked about ESPN's wake up.

“One thing I can say, though, is that he is very supportive and very familiar with the direction of the Lakers, and that's Luka Doncic's face [of the franchise]Charania said. “I think the Lakers also understand that he wants to be in a situation where he feels comfortable and eventually ended his career on his own terms.”

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka responded to the message at a Doncic press conference.

“So all the interactions we have with LeBron and his camp (especially the rich) are positive and supportive, very professional and rich, [Paul] “The conversation with him is open and constant. This can help answer this question,” Pelinka told reporters.

Still, not everyone believes things are running smoothly. Longtime NBA analyst Bill Simmons called the situation “weird.”

“The whole thing is weird,” Simmons said on the Bill Simmons podcast. “LeBron James has been in control of every situation he once had in his hands. It's the first time ever that's not the case.”

Read more: Rob Pelinka feels honest about LeBron's retirement as the Lakers