Nick Wright may have just said out loud what many around the league have been whispering for years: the Lakers aren’t all-in on LeBron James, not because they doubt his greatness, but because they didn’t expect it to last this long.
On a recent episode of his What’s Wright? podcast, Wright summed up a growing sentiment about the Los Angeles Lakers’ front office.
“It’s almost as if the Lakers are frustrated that LeBron hasn’t fallen off. The Lakers, post-Westbrook debacle, which obviously LeBron had influence on have treated every year as if, well, LeBron’s not going to be that good, and therefore it wouldn’t make sense for us to leverage everything to try to win at this moment.”
“And then each year, LeBron shows up on the All-NBA team. Each year, LeBron comes to work and gives you 25-7-7.”
It’s a damning perspective, not that the Lakers are incompetent, but that they’ve been betting against their own star. And losing.
Despite being 40 years old, LeBron James has shown few signs of decline. Last season, he averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, all while leading a fractured Lakers roster to the playoffs.
He’s not the same player who once dominated with freakish athleticism, but he’s still a top-10 force, smarter, more refined, and endlessly reliable.
Yet the Lakers’ actions don’t reflect that reality. Since the 2023 trade that finally moved on from Russell Westbrook, a move many believe LeBron himself pushed for, the Lakers have built cautiously.
They’ve made marginal moves, avoided trading distant picks, and refused to add long-term salary. In doing so, they’ve positioned themselves more as a team preserving optionality than one chasing titles.
This offseason has only fueled those suspicions. While Los Angeles did pull off a blockbuster deal for Luka Doncic near the 2025 trade deadline, a generational talent entering his prime, they’ve largely stayed quiet otherwise.
LeBron picked up his $52.6 million player option, but the Lakers declined to offer him an extension, not out of disrespect, but likely as a financial tactic. His expiring contract gives them flexibility, but it also signals that the franchise is looking past him.
From LeBron’s perspective, that lack of urgency may feel like a betrayal. After all, he’s still producing at an elite level, still drawing fans, still mentoring young players like his son Bronny. And yet the Lakers have kept him at arm’s length, unwilling to gamble on a final all-in run.
From a business standpoint, the Lakers have no incentive to rush LeBron out. They want to keep their books clean for next summer, and James’ expiring contract gives them maximum flexibility. Trading him for another star would commit them to long-term salary, something they’ve been trying to avoid.
Those hoping for a dramatic exit should temper their expectations. League sources have consistently stated there’s been no pressure from LeBron’s camp to push a move. Scoop B reported that four teams had reached out to Rich Paul regarding James, but none of that has translated into anything substantial.
Wright’s point isn’t that the Lakers want LeBron gone, but that they’ve built as if he’s already finished. That’s a dangerous gamble when the player in question is LeBron James.
With Luka now the face of the franchise and LeBron likely entering his final season, the Lakers find themselves at a crossroads. They have the talent to win. What they lack is decisiveness.
And if the front office can’t make the kind of moves that align with LeBron’s timeline, he may start to consider other options, no matter how invested he still seems on the surface.
