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The Los Angeles Lakers entered the offseason with big goals. However, LeBron James put pressure on general manager Rob Pelinka after he opted into his $52.5 million player option. So far, Los Angeles has underwhelmed and lost out on most of their free agent targets. Austin Reaves turned down his extension and Luka Doncic might do the same if things don't change.
James and his agent, Rich Paul, sent a message to the Lakers after the forward opted in. Both parties would closely watch what Pelinka did in free agency and determine if they want the four-time champion to remain in Los Angeles. A few days later, the rumors that James would consider moving on carry much more weight.
According to Arizona Sports radio host John Gambadoro, Los Angeles and James are ready to part ways.
“LeBron wants out of LA and they want him gone,” Gambadoro claims a source close to the Lakers said to him. “Watch Game 1 how disinterested LeBron was.”
Gambadoro expanded on his thoughts, hinting at dissension between Los Angeles' stars.
“LeBron does not like playing with Luka,” Gambadoro said. “Reaves does not like playing with Luka. Reaves does not like getting the ball with two seconds left on the shot clock. LeBron is not fond of playing with Luka. The Lakers are going to turn their attention to build around Luka, not LeBron.”
With James teetering on the fence and Doncic's potential contract extension on the horizon, the pressure continues to build in Los Angeles. Pelinka has been unable to bring in a center to fill the biggest need on the roster. The lack of depth on the Lakers roster came back to haunt them in their first-round series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the team has lost pieces so far this summer.
James' exit would be a surprise to Los Angeles, but he is not a part of their long-term plans. Pelinka and the Lakers are preparing to build around Doncic and Reaves, setting up their books to have a max slot available in 2027. However, they risk sacrificing the 2025-2026 season for the future. If things do not change quickly, James could request a buyout or a trade.
While James picking up his player option seemed like an obvious choice, it turned heads. The future Hall-of-Famer has signed one-year deals with player options since joining the Lakers and never opted into his option. The fact that he took the $52.5 million available to him had fans wondering what could happen next.
Now, the rumors surrounding James' future have only gotten louder. At 40 years old, the All-Star forward wants to take advantage of every season and try to win. If Pelinka and Los Angeles do not fill out the roster around him, Reaves, and Doncic, he could be on his way out.
If James joins Damian Lillard on the buyout market, suitors will line up for his services. Needless to say, the Lakers' future remains one of the biggest developments of the offseason.
