Austin Reaves is finally back in the rotation and the Los Angeles Lakers have been given a healthy reality check with the trade deadline behind them. Reaves has instantly returned to star-caliber form after a lengthy injury absence and the Lakers were thus reminded of a simple fact.
Though the pending period of free agency for Lakers superstar LeBron James is looming large, the only rational option is to either re-sign the four-time MVP at a discount or let him walk.
It seems rather ridiculous to suggest that re-signing a four-time Finals MVP should be contingent upon an asking price. The Lakers have found their dynamic duo of the present and future, however, with a 26-year-old Luka Doncic and a 27-year-old Reaves—the latter of whom is due for a colossal payday this summer.
As such, the only real question pertaining to James' future in Los Angeles is whether or not the 41-year-old realistically helps Doncic and Reaves get closer to their goal of winning a title.
Though there are some who will push back on that notion, Reaves made a clear statement in his first two games back. He finished his return with 15 points in 21 minutes, and followed by recording a game-high 35 points in 25 minutes to pick up where he left off prior to the calf injury that'd kept him sidelined.
In the process, Reaves reiterated an unavoidable point: The Lakers already have their offensive stars of the future and now need to invest wisely and responsibly in the players who support them.
Austin Reaves is Lakers' rational free agency priority, not LeBron James
James and Reaves have unfortunately spent conflicting periods of time sidelined by respective injuries in 2025-26. Both windows have revealed intriguing and at times uncomfortable truths about how the Lakers can best help Doncic win.
Doncic and Reaves seemed to crack the code while James was out earlier this season, with the Lakers going 10-4 sans the former face of the franchise.
A 14-game sample size only proves so much, but the Lakers have been building toward this development since Doncic first arrived in Los Angeles. Trading for a five-time All-NBA First Team honoree is hardly a difficult decision to justify, but it clearly signaled an intention to shift toward a younger core.
Though what James is still capable of at 41 years of age is undeniably impressive, the unfortunate truth about unprecedented greatness is that teams don't know when it's going to expire.
Lakers must be financially responsible to maximize Luka Doncic era
That alone makes the prospect of re-signing James to another max-level contract difficult to justify. His star power and gravity on the court may suggest it's rational, but the Lakers need to weigh factors such as fit and long-term outlook over legacy.
It's unfortunately even fair to question if James actually fits an ideal short-term vision for Los Angeles when one considers how poorly the core three players perform on defense.
Los Angeles ranks in the 26th percentile in defensive rating when Doncic, James, and Reaves share the court in 2025-26. They finished the 2024-25 season in the 14th percentile in the same area. Perhaps more time together will yield better results, but that'd be a costly gamble.
With cap space soon to be available, Reaves in line for a star-level payday, and the Lakers in dire need of improvements at multiple positions, James simply may not be the ideal fit in Los Angeles.