LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are getting prepared to play the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
But news involving James’ future in Los Angeles won’t ease whether it’s the middle of the season or the week of the postseason.
The Lakers have seen a devastating chain of events in the last couple of weeks. It all started the night they played the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Paycom Center.
GettyLos Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic.
Stars Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves incurred a pair of Grade 2 strains, simultaneously shutting down their seasons for multiple weeks and delivering a blow to L.A.’s playoff hopes.
Some hope persists that Doncic will return sometime during the first round, but Reaves’ absence still appears to be a lengthier one.
That has left James, the NBA’s oldest player with numerous longevity records, to hold down the fort until at least one of the Lakers’ injured stars can return to the lineup.
James suddenly has the opportunity to do what he did years ago with the Cleveland Cavaliers — showcase one of the greatest solo displays the game has ever seen.
LeBron James Faces Heavy Burden as Doubt Over Lakers Future Grows
Whether he’s played amazingly or like the typical 40-something-year-old, James has heard constant speculation over his future with L.A. Even as he gears up to try and lead the Lakers to a competitive first round series against the Rockets, the noise hasn’t taken a break.
Rampant speculation of James’ future began last offseason. With James’ contract expiring after the 2025-26 season, many were expecting the L.A. front office to offer the four-time MVP a new contract, at least one more season beyond the upcoming one.
That didn’t happen.
For the first time in his iconic career, James entered a season without a guaranteed contract for the following year. That led some to believe either the 2025-26 campaign was going to be James’ final one, or he was set to change teams after the season.
As Los Angeles prepares to host Game 1 against Houston, chatter around LeBron James’ future continues — and it’s about his next team, not retirement.
According to long-time NBA insider Marc Stein, James is among the multiple marquee names who could be on the move this summer.
“The Lakers’ LeBron James. The Clippers‘ Kawhi Leonard. And, of course, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. Expect to hear lots about their futures all spring,” Stein wrote.
“NBA free agency certainly isn’t what it once was, as we’ve chronicled here numerous times, given how common it has become for so many top players to seek and sign contract extensions that spare them from having to test the open market. Yet there is a growing anticipation in numerous front offices, league sources say, that two or even all three of the above marquee names could land with new teams next season.”
The End of An Era on the Horizon?
Eight years ago, James was hearing a lot of the same things.
He was in his fourth season of his second go-around in Cleveland; the only difference between then and now is James had a player-option for the upcoming 2018-19 season, which gave him the option to play another year in Cleveland if he desired to.
Given the complexion of that Cavaliers season, it became widely expected James would opt out of his contract and test the waters for the third time in his career.
In a couple of months, James will have no choice but to test these waters again. But now, he perhaps won’t be that intensely sought-after free-agent prize from eight years ago.
James’ decision to come to Los Angeles was rooted in much more than purely basketball; much of it had to do with his commitments off the court, starting with his family and his plans for life after the NBA.
To think James will suddenly go away from that at the tail-end of his career is hard to believe.
James could very possibly sign a new contract with the Lakers, even if it is only for one season. After all, James is on a year-to-year timeline for as long he still wants to play basketball.
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