With the NBA offseason heating up, the Los Angeles Lakers are contemplating a monumental move to bring back LeBron James. As training camps near, insiders are speculating potential roster moves, with James’ future a key focus. The Lakers’ next steps could reshape their season, as fans await the latest developments.
Lakers reportedly want to have LeBron James on their side next season
In a thrilling turn of events, the Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly open to bringing back LeBron James for another season. The Los Angeles Lakers will have considerable flexibility in upcoming draft night. They hold three first-round picks (2026, 2031, and 2033) available for trade.
The team also has an estimated $51 million in cap space, accounting for Reaves’ $20.9 million hold. Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka said they passed on some opportunities to preserve optionality. As for the question whether James still fits into LA’s plans, “the first thing they have to do is move off LeBron,” an Eastern Conference front office executive told ESPN. “Let him walk and use the space to retool around Luka. Keeping Reaves is critical. [Doncic] plays best with another ball handler/creator like with Kyrie [Irving] and [Jalen] Brunson.”
However, Lakers’ team president Rob Pelinka has expressed the desire for James to retire as a Laker. As per sources, Pelinka wishes for James to conclude his career with the Lakers, targeting 2026 or 2027 if he plays longer.
Furthermore, the decision to bring James back hinges on his salary and the team’s financial flexibility, as they’d need to balance retaining James with building around Doncic. The NBA star’s agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN in June 2025 that he wants to compete for a championship, and the Lakers are aware of this.
James, a 22-time All-Star, is earning $52.6 million this season and is averaging 22 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game on 50.2% shooting. He previously accepted a $2.7 million pay reduction on his last contract to assist the Lakers in avoiding second-apron penalties. A substantial salary concession from James this summer would represent a notable shift in his negotiation approach.
Originally written by Sibanee Gogoi on Mandatory.
