As the NBA season comes to an end, one of the league's biggest unanswered questions is what happens next for LeBron James.
The 41-year-old superstar made it clear during the All-Star Weekend that he has not yet decided on his future beyond this season and that all options are on the table, either returning to the Los Angeles Lakers, moving elsewhere or retiring.
James will become a free agent this offseason, and the team remains flexible with his options.
The Lakers deliberately avoided taking on long-term salaries at the trade deadline, a move aimed at preserving cap space and roster flexibility for the summer ahead.
This approach shows that Rob Pelinka's front office is prepared for a variety of outcomes.
If James re-signs this July, Los Angeles still has the ability to reshape the roster around him, either immediately or with an eye toward the summer of 2027.
“The first thing they're going to do is move on from LeBron,” an Eastern Conference front office executive told ESPN. “Let him move around and use the space around Luka to regroup. Keeping Reeves is crucial. [Doncic] Work best with other ball handlers/creators like Kyrie [Irving] and [Jalen] Brunson. “
ESPN's Dave McMenamin added: “Los Angeles is projected to have $51 million in cap space, and that's without James and Rui Hachimura and assuming Deandre Ayton ($8.1 million) and Marcus Smart ($5.4 million) pick up their player options.
Sources told ESPN, “If James wants to play a 24th season, he would be welcome back in Los Angeles.
Pelinka declared before the start of the season that he would be happy if James retired with the Lakers, and sources told ESPN that sentiment was intended to reflect retiring in 2026 or 2027 if James intended to extend his career.
“If James returns, his salary will be a major factor in determining what kind of team Los Angeles can build.”
James' current contract is expiring at $52.6 million, and when he signed his latest deal in 2024, he was making $2.7 million less than the maximum salary.
This willingness to sacrifice financially already plays a role in how the Lakers operate, and it could again impact what kind of team they can build if he chooses to stay.
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