Chance of LeBron James leaving the Lakers: 5%
The Los Angeles Lakers ultimately won’t have the courage to move off of LeBron James this summer but there is a reality in which the team should take itself into moving on from him. I know, it sounds crazy for the Lakers to trade the second-best player of all time, but LeBron’s future in LA is unclear.
LeBron is entering a contract season in 2022-23 and many expect the Lakers to try and get an extension done this offseason. A likely extension would include two more years after the 2022-23 season with the 2024-25 season being a player option so LeBron could potentially opt out and play with Bronny James.
There are two issues, though. First, there is a chance that LeBron does not sign an extension and instead uses that as leverage all season to get what he wants in LA. He can force the team to make moves only for him to leave and the roster be depleted, which has happened a time or two.
With LeBron himself saying he wants to play with another star player in the NBA, the seeds for him leaving after next season could already be planted. The Lakers would be better off cashing in on assets for LeBron instead of having another mediocre season where he leaves after anyway, but that is a really hard decision to make.
There is also the argument that the Lakers shouldn’t pay LeBron max money. LeBron could barely play two-thirds of the games this season and has missed more games in four years with the Lakers than in his entire career prior.
Is it really worth paying a 39-year-old LeBron max money in two years? Sure, he keeps defying what we thought we knew about age in the NBA, but the signs are already there.