08-13-2025, 10:48 AM
(08-13-2025, 09:48 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: So are we sure this is Lebron's last year in LAL? I am sure his feelings are hurt a little. For years he was everyone's north star but he is not that now. He is still damn good. I am not sure he is a guy you cant count on for a long regular season or be the "man" in a long playoff series, but that doesn't take anything away from him being really good. How long can he keep this level of play up? The concern is that in time he will have a steep decline. We really haven't seen it yet.
What type of money is he looking for after next year? Most of the contenders really don't have money. Would an extension with the Lakers for 20-25 million be the best option? Especially if Luka is a top 3 player. Maybe they extend Reaves and potentially Ayton. Would they have more money to fill in the gaps with another 1-2 good players? This may be the easiest option for LAL to be a contender, rather than letting James walk and trying to fill in with his role. Tough to find a guy who can do what Lebron does.
Just something to watch. It will be a tricky balance by all parties.
LeBron can't be a number one guy on a contender anymore and as you said, contenders don't really have cap space to sign him for big money. So he can either go wherever he wants for some kind of exception level money or sign for a bad team to just play (any bad team would likely welcome his marketing potential). Miami could carve out near max cap space if they dump Wiggins for expiring contracts, but would Miami be in any better position to contend than Lakers are? So, perhaps he can find a middle ground with Lakers. I think he likes his life in LA.
LeBron retiring could be an option, but it was rumored he wants a full goodbye season when he decides. I am not sure which team would be willing to go through that circus, if their goal is to be competitive. I think his best option for that would be this season with Lakers.
I didn't figure out Lakers long term plans yet. There were rumors they want to keep flexibility for 2027, but there is 2026 inbetween, where the only players currently under contract are Luka, Vando, LaRavia, Knecht, Bronny and Thiero. Reaves, Smart and Ayton have player options they will most likely not take, unless they suck big time. Since Lakers don't have bird rights for Ayton and Smart, they will need to resign or replace them using cap space. Lakers could have around 60 mil of cap space in 2026 taking into account Reaves cap hold, unless they change the roster a lot at TDL. There are no really good FA in 2026 and FA in most cases sign more than one year deal (so flexibility for 2027 would be gone). They could use the cap space to trade for players in exchange for air (they will have three FRP available), but it will be very difficult to build a roster with just cap space. I think they should replace Maxi and Vincent for a quality salary that ends in 2027 (easier said than done) and do the same or resign Rui for one more year. I am optimistic that they do have a plan, I am just not able to understand it. But I am really worried how next season Lakers without LeBron could be better than this season. They will have a lot of holes to fill.
Resigning LeBron for another year would be a good way for the Lakers to bridge the gap from 2026 to 2027. Not sure if Rui would take only an one year extension, but they might trade him at TDL for a player whos contract ends in 2027.