Imagine having arguably the greatest basketball player of all time on your roster, still performing at an All-NBA level in his twilight, and thinking of him as nothing more than an 'expiring contract.' Brian Windhorst reported that is exactly where the Los Angeles Lakers are at right now with LeBron James.
Windhorst said, "My conversations over the last three days have crystallized that the Lakers are essentially viewing LeBron as an expiring contract. ... I'm not sure what happened, but the Lakers and LeBron did not have substantive discussions about extending his contract."
The Lakers are essentially viewing LeBron James as an expiring contract, per @WindhorstESPN
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 2, 2025
(🎥 @FirstTake / h/t @ClutchPoints )
pic.twitter.com/EzDPSps6ou
Windhorst had mentioned being initially skeptical about the idea of the Lakers trading James. However, these developments are 'unlocking the door' for the NBA insider as he becomes less convinced of 'its impossibility.'
Perhaps the Lakers' lack of conviction towards James' future implies the belief that his playing days in the NBA are nearing their end quicker than they may seem. Oddly enough, that could be the most rational explanation to the approach in Los Angeles.
Lakers' approach raising tons of questions for onlookers
The fact that James is already 40, and set to turn another year older in December, does get lost in the shuffle a lot due to his continued excellence. The man who continues to trade haymakers with Father Time had another valiant season of maintaining a top ten level and earning All-NBA honors as a result.
This level of performance for a player with the mileage of James has never been seen before. Having him in the fold with Luka Doncic for next season has created plenty of frustration for those watching the Lakers' cautious approach to start the free agency period.
Where does that leave the Lakers from here?
Do they continue their strategy of potentially having 2025-26 as a write-off? That still comes across as irresponsible considering Doncic is right in the midst of his prime and the Lakers continuing to prove themselves to their new superstar remains important.
However, if the thought behind closed doors is that James is truly around the corner from enjoying all non-basketball activities that Los Angeles has to offer, is the best the Lakers can do really just to wait him out? That, likewise, is wasteful of James' talents and presence.
This will certainly be a situation that is far from its conclusion. With the Western Conference continuing to ramp up around the Lakers, the optimism in the air is quickly pondering its exit. It will be worth monitoring whether James and the team feel similarly about their union.