LeBron James made headlines earlier this summer by opting into the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, locking in $51.4 million for the 2025–26 season. While many viewed the move as a sign of control and leverage, at least one anonymous Lakers executive sees it differently. In a quote shared with Spotrac, the exec pushed back on the narrative that a player option gives the athlete full authority, stressing that the team still plays a major role in what happens next.
“Whenever you sign a player to a deal with an option, you willingly give them the control to initially guide the situation,” the executive told Spotrac. “But this notion that a player option gives the player all of the power is pretty silly. If they opt out, the team is then a partner in re-signing them or not. If they opt in, then the team is a partner in whatever happens next, too. For LeBron, he had a player option and made his decision to opt in. We’re just happy that he’s still a Laker.”
This is the first time LeBron James has been on an expiring deal, and many took it as a sign that a breakup was inevitable. As the Lakers have gravitated more toward Luka Doncic this offseason, it only fed the narrative that James was done in Los Angeles. He lost his voice and input in front-office decisions, leading to an undeniable rift with the front office.
When things finally reached their peak, Rich Paul had to come and deny the rumors of a trade, but it failed to convince everyone that he’s fully on board. Even now, there are lingering feelings that James is growing resentful of the Lakers for how they are treating him at the end of his career.
At first, you might think that LeBron holds all the leverage, given that he’s set to be a free agent next summer. Despite his age, he’s still an elite and very valuable player who averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game last season. Still, the Lakers are not feeling any pressure knowing that everything is going according to plan.
At 40 years old, James is in the last act of his career, and nobody is certain how it will end. In the meantime, they intend to make the most of LeBron’s talents while they still have him. Between his presence and the combined impact of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves on the floor, the Lakers will be set to compete for a top spot in the West and challenge the top title contenders.
For now, LeBron’s return is being celebrated in Los Angeles, even as questions linger about his long-term future. Will he retire a Laker? Will he join Bronny on a different team next summer? Or could a quiet divorce play out behind the scenes? What’s clear from the Lakers’ front office is that they believe they still have a seat at the table—and that LeBron, for all his star power, doesn’t hold every card.
