LeBron James told everyone upon his return that he could fit with any team and any roster. Off the jump, there was truth to be found in that sentiment. After a disappointing December for the Los Angeles Lakers, skeptics have quickly come rushing back in.
Some believe 2025-26 will confidently be the end of the line for the union between James and the Lakers. Among those people are even personnel around the NBA. Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst clued everyone in to that when dropping a round of NBA intel to start the new year.
"LeBron is still averaging 20 points and shooting 50 percent. He can help a team win," one head coach told the ESPN duo. "You just have to find the right situation."
The implication there would be that Los Angeles is no longer viewed as such for the all-time great. So, where is the truth in the matter? Do the Lakers have to admit defeat and part ways? Or is there a realm in which this still works out for both parties?
LeBron-Lakers marriage will need sacrifice to continue beyond this season
Windhorst believed there would be three 'rational paths' for James after 2025-26. Either LeBron stays with the Lakers at a significantly reduced salary, leaves elsewhere, or just flat-out retires from the NBA.
There should still be doubt regarding the last option on the list. Considering it is January, and James has given no indication of a desire to walk away from the sport, it is mostly safe to believe LeBron will stick around for at least one more year.
Whether that happens in Los Angeles is the real question.
The shortcomings of the current roster, mainly on defense, have resulted in a lot of finger pointing at both LeBron and Luka Doncic. The workaround for escaping that dark cloud of negativity would be to strengthen and revamp the supporting pieces around the stars in Los Angeles.
To that point, Windhorst's idea of a pay cut being the best way to continue the partnership between James and the Lakers made sense. The ESPN insider referenced what one executive called 'the Dirk option' of when the Dallas Mavericks legend helped his franchise build the roster at his expense.
With a payday on its way for Austin Reaves, if James wants to remain a part of the trio in Los Angeles, that does immediately stand out as the solution which would things easiest on the Lakers. What happens next is tough to answer now. Even so, the previous point will remain true until the summer.