Following the Los Angeles Lakers’ incredible run to the 2023 Western Conference Finals, LeBron James briefly considered retiring. If the NBA’s all-time top scorer were to exit the postseason early the following week, how would he respond?

James will once again be in the spotlight if the Lakers fail to make it out of the play-in round. James has a $51.4 million player option for the 2024–25 campaign.

James may make a decision that is not motivated by money. Not much separates him from signing a new contract in July after opting out (around $162 million) and getting roughly $163.7 million if he opted in and extended in August.



If James and the Lakers decide to stay married for a maximum of three years (2026–2027), James might wish to choose to leave in order to have more influence over the team.

James Could Desire Modifications

How happy is James with the coaching staff and supporting cast of the Lakers? According to various NBA insiders, James exerted a lot of pressure on the front office to trade for Russell Westbrook after the Lakers failed to defend their title in 2021. He pushed for Westbrook to leave when it became obvious that their cooperation wasn’t working.

Is James, who turns forty in December, still seen as special by the Lakers? Does he want to remain with the franchise for what may be his last few years?

In the NBA, there was talk that James wasn’t comfortable with head coach Darvin Ham during the team’s early-season struggles. Will James try to force the squad to choose between him and the coach if the Lakers don’t win a playoff series this season?

That is presuming the Lakers want to invest in James despite his older age, but all indications point to them holding onto one of the best players in the league. This is the same team that supported Kareem Abdul-Jabbar until he was forty-two years old and Kobe Bryant following his Achilles injury. While L.A. may be considering its options after James, it doesn’t seem to be the primary emphasis right now.

After a year at USC, James might encourage the Lakers to select or sign his son Bronny James. Additionally, he might push for the team to trade for Donovan Mitchell, who might leave the Cleveland Cavaliers as soon as this offseason, in favor of Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young, a fellow Klutch Sports client. He is also able to push for a no-trade provision.

James may be subject to some pressure from the Lakers. In order to max out James at $157.5 million over three seasons, how many teams will have cap space of nearly $50 million? Philadelphia seems like the most obvious choice, but most NBA insiders think Paul George is the 76ers’ main goal. The Sixers might present James with an option if George decides to re-sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The same people think James won’t want to move to the East Coast, not even to try to win a championship alongside Tyrese Maxey of Klutch and Joel Embiid. Would Sixers president Daryl Morey try to get his father to sign free agency by selecting Bronny James in the draft?

“One Eastern Conference executive stated that Daryl would be the one to do it if someone were to do it.”

But if the Sixers don’t show up as a serious contender to acquire James, the Lakers might adopt a more aggressive approach. Competing executives anticipate Los Angeles to err on the side of submission, but that might make for an exciting offseason.

High-Cost Roster, Limited Adjustability

James has a $51.4 million player option, but his maximum summertime salary as a free agent is estimated to be slightly less than $50 million (based on a $141 million salary limit for 2024–25).

He may accept a little pay cut, which would benefit the Lakers. Restrictive restrictions will be imposed on them next season ($178.7 million for the first and $189.5 million for the second), as they are a habitual luxury tax offender.

The next major choice for D’Angelo Russell is whether to accept his $18.7 million player option to pursue free agency or re-sign with the Lakers, with James still under contract at $50–51.4 million. After signing a two-year contract with a player option last year, he might try to negotiate a longer or richer deal. But like most free agents, Russell might discover that there aren’t many teams willing to give him a big contract this summer.

The player options for Christian Wood ($3 million), Jaxson Hayes ($2.5 million), and Cam Reddish ($2.5 million) can all be declined. Perhaps the only player whose stock has grown this season is Hayes. The following starting salaries are available to the Lakers for re-signing free agents: $5.4 million for Taurean Prince, roughly $13 million for Max Christie, and $4 million for Spencer Dinwiddie.

The Lakers would be slightly under the second apron, which might represent the team’s internal maximum expenditure cap, if all players save Christie were to return. That also assumes that, as part of the Anthony Davis trade, the New Orleans Pelicans choose to acquire the Lakers’ 2024 first-round pick rather than postponing it until 2025.

The Lakers would not be subject to a hard cap, but they would also not be eligible for the $5.2 million taxpayer mid-level exception at that salary level. In the event that another player unexpectedly decides not to play, or if they choose not to re-sign Prince, they may get access to the taxpayer MLE.

Exchange Items

With James and Russell under contract, the Lakers’ only true avenue to improve may be through trades as they will have few options in free agency. The Lakers could shop everyone else, including Jalen Hood-Schifino, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt, Gabe Vincent, Maxwell Lewis, and, if they choose to, Russell, Wood, Hayes, and Reddish, assuming Davis wouldn’t be available.

The Pelicans’ choice regarding their 2024 or 2025 first-round pick will determine which Lakers can trade, along with first-round selections in 2029 and 2031.

The Lakers appear interested in a third star, most likely a guard who would complement James since his playing days are numbered. Young or Mitchell, who might be available this offseason, could be that. As an alternative, the Lakers might seek to bring in a scoring wing with a defensive mindset, though Mikal Bridges of the Brooklyn Nets isn’t likely to be traded this summer.

Since the trade market has not yet developed, the upcoming weeks and months—including the playoffs and draft lottery—will set the stage for what’s to come.

Or James Goes

In the event that James leaves after choosing to opt out, the Lakers would lose $50 million in payroll, falling under the salary ceiling and maybe the tax (based on Russell’s choice).

The Lakers would be eligible for the $12.9 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception if they exceeded the cap. They would have a hard cap of $176.7 million if they used it. That might be sufficient to acquire a decent player, but most likely not a fantastic one and most definitely not one who could succeed James.

With Davis, Hachimura, Russell, and Reaves, can the Lakers compete? Without James, the defense might get better and they would have more freedom to rearrange the roster, but that’s probably not the foundation of a team that can fight for the championship.

To try to avoid having to rebuild, the Lakers would be able to make more trades and movements. It could be preferable for them to steer into the skid, try to move Davis, and reset appropriately instead.

Although it is still a possibility, the Lakers will probably attempt to maintain the current, albeit flawed, status quo while hoping for greater health and fortune in James’ last seasons with the team.