LeBron James' future cracks the short list for the biggest stories in the NBA world. It just maybe, possibly doesn't quite carry the same weight for the Los Angeles Lakers, who might be mulling different paths to alternative (and younger) stars as they continue reshaping this roster around Luka Doncic.
Beyond the franchise focus on all things Luka, there's also the seemingly very real chance that James' future won't involve L.A. Retirement has long loomed as a threat above the 41-year-old, but so too does a possible return back home for the Ohio native. The way former NBA big man and current ESPN talking head Kendrick Perkins sees it, it's that latter scenario that should hold James' full attention.
"I want to see [LeBron] back in Cleveland," Perkins said on Get Up. "By the way, James Harden and Donovan Mitchell have already been pitching to the front office that they want Bron back in Cleveland. Go back home, go out the right way just like you came in, and let the Lakers close that chapter of LeBron James and move on and let Luka take over this franchise."
Perkins isn't the only one with an eye on Cleveland, as James' future will remain a big focus around the league. It just might dominate the thoughts of L.A.'s decision-makers the way you might think it would.
The Cavaliers can present quite a compelling sales pitch to LeBron.
Melissa Rohlin of the New York Post recently opined there might be four ways in which James' offseason could play out. Bringing up the rear in terms of likelihood was going to Golden State—dubbed the least likely although with a note of there being "definitely some level of mutual interest there"—and retiring.
Rohlin also admitted to ranking retirement as because "it's hard to imagine James not wanting a farewell tour." By that logic, then, maybe there's only two ways for this to realistically play out. And Rohlin doesn't have re-signing with the Lakers as the most likely outcome.
"James' and the Cavs' timelines are aligned," Rohlin wrote. "While the Lakers are building around Luka Doncic and looking toward their future, the Cavs are all in right now. It makes you wonder if James could return to where his career began and vie for a championship alongside Donovan Mitchell."
Cleveland's deadline decision to swap out Darius Garland for James Harden narrowed the window to win, upping the urgency for it to happen. It also perhaps greatly improved the Cavs' chances for doing so. Garden is a really good player, but he can't match Harden in terms of accolades (or availability).
Getting back to Cleveland—and out of the Western Conference—would almost certainly increase James' championship chances. The finances would be tricky to figure out, but you'd think that'd be a matter of a will-creating-a-way kind of deal.
Where would that all leave the Lakers? Well, probably focused on the things they're already tracking: figuring out the best ways to win big with Doncic. Maybe James is a part of that picture for another season. Maybe he isn't.
Strange as this sounds for such a marquee talent, James' future really isn't L.A.'s biggest concern. While it's hard to envision the Lakers rushing him out the door, it's just as hard to picture them wallowing in misery all summer should he choose to depart.