LeBron James has spent his entire NBA career as the cornerstone of his respective franchise — whether it be the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, or Los Angeles Lakers. That will no longer be the case for the 2025-26 season.
Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka confirmed as much at Saturday’s press conference to announce Luka Doncic’s three-year extension worth $165 million. The Lakers will be searching for a new co-star to pair with the superstar point guard.
Pelinka hinted as to why the franchise has been prioritizing their financial flexibility.
“Make no mistakes, we’re in win championship now mode always,” the Lakers general manager told reporters. “I don’t wanna bore people with apron talk, … but in the new system that we’re in, having optionality is key to building teams. … [It] is there for us to use now if the right move comes.”
James, who will turn 41 this season, made waves earlier in the offseason when he stated to his intention to watch the Lakers’ offseason moves closely before deciding on his future. Pelinka stated at the press conference that conversations with James and Rich Paul had been “positive and supportive.”
However, the Lakers general manager did not seem to dismiss the idea that James could finish his career elsewhere.
“All the interactions we’ve had with LeBron and his camp Rich in particular have been positive and supportive,” Pelinka said. “We want to respect his ability to come up with his timetable. If he had a chance to retire a Laker that would be great.”
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