With Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Deandre Ayton, the Los Angeles Lakers should be feeling good about their standing in the West next season. Instead, the situation is growing increasingly unstable as tensions rise between the organization and its biggest star (LeBron James). According to one anonymous executive, the franchise is clashing with King James over what’s being called an “idiotic” offseason strategy.
“Yeah, usually when a star player like LeBron opts into his contract, the team announces the move,” an NBA executive told Hoops Wire. “I find this very strange. Something is definitely going on behind the scenes. I mean, the odds of LeBron getting traded are very, very low. His salary is just too high. But I think LeBron and the Lakers’ front office are butting heads. They haven’t had an impressive offseason at all, and then there are rumors that Rob [Pelinka] is saving cap space for 2027. That’s just idiotic when you have LeBron and Luka [Doncic].”
LeBron just recently opted into the final year of his deal, worth a whopping $52.6 million in the 2025-26 season. It’s a major financial hit for the Lakers, but it’s expected to keep them competitive after James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 51.3% shooting in the 2024-25 campaign.
For years, LeBron has been the face of the franchise, and GM Rob Pelinka has been happy to cater to James before. This summer, however, the relationship has changed. As LeBron has pressured the organization to make win-now moves, Pelinka has been reluctant to sign any long-term prospects. He hopes to keep the team’s cap flexibility intact for 2027, when a potentially historic class of elite free agents is expected to hit the market.
This quiet and patient approach does not align with LeBron’s team-building vision. At 40 years old, James doesn’t have time to wait for this squad to develop into a contender. If it were up to him, the Lakers would be doing everything they can to build the best roster they can to challenge the likes of the Thunder, Nuggets, and Timberwolves in the West.
Unfortunately for James, he’s not the Lakers’ main priority anymore. Ever since Luka’s arrival, his desires have come secondary. At 26 years old, Doncic is built for long-term success, and the Lakers will not do anything to compromise that, even if it means displeasing No. 23.
As for what comes next for LeBron and the Lakers, only time will tell. After opting into his $52.6 million contract, there aren’t many teams willing, or able, to absorb that kind of salary, especially with free agency looming in 2026. Why pay a premium now when you might be able to sign him outright next summer?
If the Lakers can’t find a way to align their vision with LeBron’s, this partnership could be entering its final chapter. With pressure mounting from all sides, the coming season could either be a swan song or the beginning of a quiet divorce between the King and the franchise he brought back to glory.
