AROUND the NBA:

[michaeltex]

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.

I wonder how Luka is going to take having the Lakers limp along while they are trying to resolve LeBron's exit/retirement. Imagine he spends all summer losing weight and trying to be in NBA-level shape then has to endure a season focused on answering the question of "what to do with LeBron" followed by a season trying to rebuild the team after LBJ is gone. Then he'll have to hope things are going well enough that LAL will drop a super max into his bank account.