About two months before the NBA team reported to training camp, about three NBA season tips, LeBron James’ future with the Los Angeles Lakers will be a frequent topic of discussion among the media and fans.
NBA journalist Marc Stein outlines many key points to influence James' decision over the next nine months in his latest column – if the Lakers compete for the NBA title, then that's the past. But this process may boil down to one factor.
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“It really depends on how the season goes.” A Stein source said.
James continued to maintain a high level, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game while shooting 38% from 3-pointers last season. The Lakers ranked third in the Western Conference last season with a score of 50-32. But they are the ultimate NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder 18 games. The first-round playoff series lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games, which also puts them clearly how far from winning the NBA title.
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Basketball business president Rob Pelinka added center Deandre Ayton and forward Jake Laravia and re-signed center Jaxson Hayes. But is James and Luka Dončić competing enough for a highly competitive Western Conference?
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James is largely responsible for creating these issues by getting his $52.6 million player option in the upcoming season, rather than reaching a long-term deal with the Lakers. His agent Rich Paul also made a statement to ESPN, saying that “LeBron wants to compete for the championship” and “value the chance to win all the championships.”
The statement also acknowledged that the Lakers are preparing for the future outside of James, who will build around Don Eunch.
“We understand the difficulty of winning when preparing for the future,” Paul said. “We do want to evaluate the best LeBron fits in LeBron in his life and career. He wants to keep every season and the Lakers understand that it is support and want the best thing for him.”
If it's obvious that the Lakers won't compete for the NBA championship, then it's possible to play the trade. Stein emphasized the Dallas Mavericks as a possible destination. Previous reports said that only James, who was acquired from the 2025-26 contract, would have increased interest. If the Mavericks thought they were in the championship hunt, would that change half of the season?
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It may also apply to Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, and even the Cleveland Cavaliers.
But if James wants to continue playing, not only in pursuit of a fifth NBA championship, but also in 24 or 25 seasons, or over 46 to play the oldest player in the league, then for him, every team on each team is the next stop. Stein's report increasingly shows that this won't happen to the Lakers.