LeBron James is playing in one of (if not the) final seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers this year. While he has still shown his value by embracing more of an off-ball role, it's also true that this team is paying a $52.6 million dollar salary this season to a player averaging 17.6 points per game.
That number is not meant as a knock on LeBron’s legacy or his basketball IQ. He's still one of the smartest players on the floor on any given night, and his willingness to screen and defer has helped keep the Lakers functional offensively. But when you commit more than $50 million of your cap to one player, the bar should be dominance, and it's obvious the Lakers aren't getting that level of return.
The ripple effect shows up everywhere else on the roster. LA hans't been able to consistently surround Luka Doncic with as much speed and defensive versatility as they would like. They're asking role players to cover too many gaps because the financial flexibility simply is not there. When one contract eats that much of the cap, everything else becomes a compromise, from the wing defense to the margin for error at the trade deadline.
The Lakers aren't getting good value from LeBron's contract
LeBron’s off-ball value has helped in certain matchups, particularly when defenses overload Luka. He still makes quick reads and keeps the offense organized late in games. But there are also stretches where his lack of burst limits what the Lakers can do in transition. This team already plays at a slower pace than most contenders, and it becomes even more pronounced when LeBron is on the floor for heavy minutes.
Defensively, the issue is even tougher to hide. LeBron can still make smart rotations and deliver timely help, but he's no longer a player who consistently bends the defense with effort alone. Against younger and faster teams, the Lakers often look a step behind, and it forces others to overextend. That wears on a roster over the course of a season.
This puts the front office in a tough position. You have to consider these ramifications when thinking about keeping him around for next season, and his limitations are obvious at this point.
None of this erases what LeBron has given the franchise. But value is about context, not history. At $52.6 million, the Lakers are paying for a version of LeBron that no longer exists, and that reality is quietly shaping everything about their ceiling.