NBA legend LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason and it appears the Purple and Gold want to move on from the future Hall of Famer to build around Luka Dončić, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
The Lakers will have major cap space this offseason. They are expected to pursue a trade for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and re-sign Austin Reaves, who will become an unrestricted free agent after declining his 2026-27 player option.
“Plan A for the Lakers, per competing executives and player agents, appears to be moving on from LeBron James to build around the younger star, Luka Dončić,” Pincus wrote. “Scouts across the league are skeptical that L.A. can defend well enough with a core of Austin Reaves, Luka Dončić, and LeBron James.”
James joined the Lakers in 2018. He guided the franchise to the 2020 championship against the Miami Heat at the Walt Disney World bubble. Los Angeles also reached the 2023 Western Conference Finals.
Dončić, Reaves and James haven’t played well together this season. The Lakers have a -7.8 net rating with their “Big 3” on the floor.
James, 41, is the oldest active player in the NBA. While he’s averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game this season, James has a plus-minus of -45.
If James doesn’t retire this offseason, most people around the NBA expect the basketball icon to either re-sign with the Lakers or go back to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
If Los Angeles doesn’t express interest in re-signing James, the four-time MVP will more than likely finish his career with his hometown Cavaliers alongside James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
“More than any other destination, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been bounced around as the most likely landing spot for James to finish his career,” Pincus wrote. “He’s an Akron kid at heart; James has listed the Cavaliers’ championship in 2016 as one of his career highlights.”
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