As the Los Angeles Lakers navigate their offseason, all eyes are on LeBron James and the pivotal decision that lies ahead. The four-time NBA MVP is on the brink of free agency, and his next move could command a staggering salary that may exceed $50 million annually as he approaches his 40s.

This financial commitment raises the question: Should the Lakers invest heavily in James, potentially at the expense of team flexibility? The debate around James’ future with the Lakers was a topic on the Bill Simmons Podcast, where Ryen Russillo weighed in.

Russillo suggested that retaining James, despite the potential future complications, is preferable to losing the team’s relevance. “I think having LeBron around and playing as well as he did this past year, being relevant is a much better option than being irrelevant, even feeling like you’re going to have to get in front of it.

Rusillo continued, “There’s just a lot of stuff that I don’t know if I’d wanna do but being in LA, being relevant and the way that front offices go ‘hey a bounce here, a bounce there, we got a bad matchup in the first round and all the stuff at least we know 24-25, we’ll have a pretty good team, a better coach, tweak here, tweak there.”

Improving the roster is crucial for the Lakers, especially as they face an increasingly competitive Western Conference and an aging core. Success hinges on more than just James’ contributions; the coaching staff and front office must make astute decisions and roster enhancements to stay in contention.

Even in his 21st NBA season, LeBron James continues to be a dominant force on the court, capable of changing the game’s outcome when it matters most. While allocating a significant portion of the salary cap to him might not seem ideal, the Lakers appear to believe they are on the cusp of contending once again.