The Los Angeles Lakers are bracing for life without LeBron James. The 41-year-old superstar forward still looks like a great player. He has accepted a new role on this Lakers team, being either the second or third option almost every night.
At this stage in his career, James is no longer the star who can control every aspect of the game. He holds numerous NBA records, including the all-time scoring record. While he could decide to retire after the season, it seems more likely that he plays for at least one more season.
It seems increasingly unlikely that James plays for the Lakers next season. One ESPN reporter believes the Cleveland Cavaliers are the best fit for him.
The Cavaliers are Seen as the ‘Cleanest Fit’ for LeBron James
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Cavs are the best fit for James next season. This is despite the fact that the Cavaliers are a second-place team at the moment.
“A source in our story said that would be the cleanest fit. There could be a sign-and-trade scenario that the Cavs and Lakers would be able to pull off, which would get LeBron James more money potentially than, say, the mid-level exception, if he were to stay with the Lakers.”
McMenamin mentioned that the Lakers also want to keep James, but it will depend on the money James wants to get paid.
“The Lakers may want him back, and Tim and I reported in the story that they do want him back, but the number of his salary will probably be the most important factor in that decision.”
James will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. It’s highly unlikely he will get paid anywhere close to the $52.6 million he is getting paid this year. He is in line to take a massive pay cut, which is expected of a player his age.
The Lakers’ Urgency to Win a Title Has Never Been Higher
With James’ future uncertain, the urgency to win a championship for the Lakers has never been higher. They know this is the best chance to win a title with him in a supporting role. He has only won one championship in Los Angeles, and that was the bubble title of 2020.
If James does leave, it would free up a massive amount of cap space for the Lakers next season. They would be able to build a better defensive team around Luka Doncic, which is their biggest need. The Lakers have just the 20th-ranked defense in the NBA this year.
Of course, Los Angeles doesn’t just want to push James out the door. They want him to play as many games as possible for the franchise, as he is an all-time great player. When he turns it on, he is still one of the most frightening scorers in the league, especially going downhill.
There is still a chance that James decides to retire at the end of the year. Yet, it seems like he still has the drive to play.
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