After Jamal Murray ended their season on a game-winning shot, the Los Angeles Lakers are headed back to the drawing board this summer with big changes likely on the horizon. And while LeBron James was supposed to be part of their long-term redemption plan, he curiously refused to make any commitment beyond this summer.
“I’m not gonna answer that,” said James via Jovan Buha on if this was his final game as a Laker. “I appreciate it.”
Was there any thought that tonight was your last game with the Lakers?
LeBron James: “I’m not going to answer that.” pic.twitter.com/tOySUdsmbI
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) April 30, 2024
James, 39, is set to enter free agency this summer after six full seasons with the Lakers. When he originally signed in 2018, it was believed to be where he’d eventually retire. But now, after being bounced in the first round to the same team as last year, James’ future is more uncertain than ever and the Lakers will have some tough decisions to make on how to construct the roster — with or without him.
Since LeBron did not shut down talks of potentially leaving the team, we have to assume that it’s a possibility this offseason given his latest statement and it would be a massive blow to their status as a title contender. The question is, if LeBron’s not a Laker next season, what jersey will he be wearing?
Of course, LeBron may decide to call it quits completely and his comment tonight may be his way of saying that he’s still thinking over what he wants to do with his career. At 39, and 21 years in the league, he’s earned a permanent leave of absence from the league and he may be seriously considering it for the first time in his life.
For the Lakers, losing LeBron would be a massive blow and it would send them back several years. Without James, who averaged 27.0 points, 8.0 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game this season, the Lakers would stand no chance of keeping up with the Western Conference elites and they’d have to decide whether to build around Anthony Davis or just trade everyone to reset and rebuild the roster from scratch.
Is This The End For LeBron James?
It’s well-known by now that King James is in the final stage of his NBA career. Despite still being an All-NBA level player, his decline as an athlete is undeniable and he’s just not able to carry his team to wins like he used to before. While there is still time for him to win one more title before it’s all said and done, he’s got some other plans that could pull him away from the Lakers next season.
Not the least of which involves his son, Bronny, who is eligible for the 2024 NBA Draft this summer. It’s well-documented that James wants to play with his son and he has structured his contract in a way that allows him to follow Bronny to whichever team he gets drafted to this summer.
But even if the Bronny thing doesn’t work out, LeBron doesn’t have to re-sign with the Lakers. He can have his pick from several different teams, as most of them would be happy to welcome LeBron James on their roster. One potential destination could be the Golden State Warriors, who reportedly spoke with the Lakers on a LeBron trade back in February.
At this point, only LeBron knows what he truly wants and he’s sending hints that this summer will be a long process for him as he navigates this tricky time of his basketball career. Regardless of what happens, it’s James who has control over his path ahead and he will do whatever he feels is best for him and his family.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.
