LeBron James has had a successful tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers despite missing the playoffs with the team last season. He has earned a level of culpability for roster decisions, however, in fairness to LeBron has already delivered a title to a franchise that was stuck in neutral before LeBron signed with the team in 2018.
LeBron is set to hit free agency at the end of the 2022-23 season if the two sides don’t reach an extension before the season’s end. James hitting free agency is certainly a possibility if the Lakers roster stays as is and Los Angeles doesn’t give James a reason to believe the team is improving.
Depending on who you believe the NBA GOAT, is LeBron is chasing Jordan not happy to simply sit back and sit on a Lakers team he knows is headed in the wrong direction.
LeBron James could absolutely leave the Lakers for a better situation.
The door is certainly open for LeBron and the Lakers to part ways next offseason and there are clearly better situations that James could put himself in to win another ring.
The Lakers’ hesitance to part ways with future draft picks to win now and James having already won a title certainly sets the stage for a team to steal James in free agency. Another disappointing season from the Lakers and LeBron will clearly have far better options waiting for him in free agency.