The Lakers—once facing an uncertain future a couple of months ago due to their aging star duo—suddenly find themselves with a secure future after Luka Doncic joins the team in a massive trade.
Anthony Davis’ departure from the Purple and Gold will hurt the team’s immediate chances of winning the 2025 title, but Doncic should assure the Purple and Gold of at least ten seasons of high-quality production and playoff contention if Rob Pelinka manages to build a solid team around him.
One of the biggest questions the front office has to ask is whether they should keep on making a move and trade LeBron James as well. The King is still putting up incredible numbers and could be a useful acquisition to other teams interested in parting with their young talents for a win-now situation.
While King James is definitely worth a shout in today’s NBA, one analyst thinks the Lakers would approach James’ future with the team differently.
The Lakers are confident James will stay with the team past 2025 and not demand a trade
Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reported that the team is in no shape or form interested in selling LeBron to another team:
According to people familiar with the Lakers’ thinking not authorized to speak publicly, the team has little to no fear that James will want to leave via a trade this season. He can opt out of his contract that’s set to pay him more than $52 million next summer and become an unrestricted free agent, but that’s not an immediate concern for the Lakers.
The Lakers are hopeful that James can not only pair with Doncic in the short term, but can also provide an example to the young star when it comes to the type of physical commitment it takes to sustain availability and greatness.
Aside from the obvious benefits of playing together with Doncic, Woike writes that James wants to finish his career with the Purple and Gold. While James will likely reject his 2025-26 player option, he’s committed to playing the remaining years of his career in Tinseltown.
King James is putting up another incredible season for the Lakers. The 40-year-old veteran out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School is putting up 24.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 9.1 assists this season. His recent showings against the Wizards and Knicks show that there’s still a lot left in the tank for the future Hall of Famer.
‘Interesting Part’: NBA Champion Reveals How LeBron James Can Help Solve Major Luka Doncic Problem 4
Dec 25, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (left) talks with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (right) after the game between the Mavericks and the Lakers at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
While his numbers may dip as he adjusts to life with Luka on his team, he and his new partner pose a serious threat to the rest of the NBA.
