Is It Time for the Lakers To Move On from LeBron James?
Although LeBron has brought the Lakers to the Promised Land during his 6-year tenure with the team, his run with the team will always remain controversial.
LeBron’s first season with the Lakers started out promising, with the Lakers being the 4th seed in the West up until Christmas day. It was from this day onward that everything would go south for the Lakers. LeBron would pull his groin, causing a lengthy absence. Later in that season, Lonzo Ball would suffer a season-ending ankle injury, Brandon Ingram would be diagnosed with blood clots in his arm, and the Lakers’ team chemistry would be hindered by LeBron’s desire to trade their young players for superstar Anthony Davis. The Lakers would go on to miss the playoffs.
After the ill-fated 2019 season, the Lakers would carry out their plan, trading away Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, 3 first-round picks & 1 pick swap, for Anthony Davis.
The Lakers would triumph and win it all during the 2020 NBA season, in what would be the strangest NBA season ever with the NBA shutting down and restarting months later in Disneyland due to the COVID pandemic. In 2021, the Lakers would once again be hindered by injuries, with both Anthony Davis and LeBron James suffering substantial injuries resulting in lengthy absences. Despite this, they would beat the Warriors in the play-in and earn themselves the 7th seed. They would face off against the 2-seed Suns, and lead in the series 2–1, before Anthony Davis would pull his groin, causing him to miss game 5 and be removed 5 minutes into game 6. Without Davis, the Lakers would fall in 6 games to the eventual Western Conference Champion Suns.
During the offseason in 2021, the Lakers searched for an additional piece the team could add to get them over the hump. GM Rob Pelinka looked to trade for Buddy Hield, a solid shooter who would help complement a team that desperately needed shooting. However, LeBron’s strong advocacy for Russell Westbrook led the Lakers to trade key players to bring in Westbrook. The Lakers would trade their 2021 1st round pick, Kyle Kuzma, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, & Montrezl Harrell in exchange for Westbrook and 2 second-rounders.
The Lakers had no reason to change the identity of their team, as they were on track to beat the eventual Western Conference Champions before losing Anthony Davis. However, with the persuasion of LeBron, they added Westbrook, leaving the Lakers without shooting, defense, and depth. The Lakers would have a disastrous 2022 season, missing the playoffs and play-in altogether. It looked as if LeBron’s influence over management had done the Lakers in.
The Lakers would put together a strong campaign for the 2023 season, making it to the Conference Championship, where they would get swept by the Denver Nuggets. The Lakers would lose to the Nuggets again in the 1st round of the 2024 NBA playoffs.
Now during the 2024 offseason, the Lakers have decisions to make. One decision they are trying to solve is finding a new head coach. They were rejected by Dan Hurley, a legendary college head coach, who the Lakers offered 6-years 70 million. With LeBron on the roster, there is no right way to go about being a head coach for the Lakers. Everyone knows that LeBron is the unofficial GM and coach for whatever team he is on. When the plan does not work, the official GM and coach are left to be the scapegoat.
With LeBron going into his age 40 season, it is time for the Lakers to rethink whether LeBron is worth keeping on the roster. Reports state that the Lakers want LeBron to return ‘on any term that he wants.’ This would likely include giving LeBron a 3-year 164 million supermax, as well as drafting his son Bronny. Giving LeBron the supermax would prohibit the Lakers from getting any sort of help in free agency to improve the team from last season. Additionally, if the Lakers acquire Bronny, LeBron may advocate for Bronny to receive substantial minutes, and the Lakers would be pressured to cede to his request. Lastly, with LeBron’s lengthy injury history during his time with the Lakers, it is highly unlikely LeBron will play another full season again, given that he is only getting older.
LeBron has a player option for 51 million this upcoming season, and if he declines it, he will become an unrestricted free agent. With LeBron’s unwillingness to take pay cuts throughout his career, LeBron will surely decline his player option and seek the supermax. With the Lakers being the only team eligible to offer LeBron the supermax, the Lakers could sign and trade LeBron to a team willing to pay the salary and take on the additional clauses that come with acquiring LeBron.
Now, will the Lakers be willing to move on from LeBron? Probably not. This is because once the Lakers lose LeBron, they will become a poverty franchise at the bottom of the Western Conference standings for years to come. However, the aftermath of the Anthony Davis trade is almost over. Besides their 2025 1st round pick owed to the New Orleans Pelicans, the Lakers will own their 1st rounders after 2025. For the 2026 and 2027 NBA seasons, rather than being a fringe playoff team that gets bounced early, they could be in the draft lottery and potentially get top 5 picks. They could find their next franchise player. And if you believe the draft lottery is rigged and favors big market teams, the NBA will have no issue placing their next big superstar in LA. However, being back to lackluster is a reality the Lakers will not be willing to accept. Hence, they will likely continue their delusional beliefs that they can win a championship with LeBron, rather than starting a rebuild.
