NBA Insider Predicts LeBron James Will Leave Lakers Soon

The group also includes newly-acquired 3-and-D reserve small forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who has a $15.4 million player option for 2025-26. James himself has a $52.6 million player optoin for next year.

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Starting L.A. center Jaxson Hayes, who has been looking surprisingly solid as the team's de facto starting five, is currently on a veteran's minimum deal. If the Lakers have a deep playoff run, the 7-footer out of Texas seems likely to earn a major markup in free agency this summer.

"Upon trading Anthony Davis to the Dallas Mavericks for Luka Doncic, it seemed like the LeBron James era might be coming to a close for the Los Angeles Lakers," Pincus noted. "Instead, James and Doncic have developed instant on-court chemistry together. The younger star may help prolong James' already historic 22-year career."

2025-26 would represent James' record-breaking 23rd season in the league, and given how great he's performed this year, it seems unlikely he would actually decline the option and hang up his sneakers for good.

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More likely than not, as Pincus observes, James could opt out of the contract and decide to return to Los Angeles on another one-plus-one deal (i.e. another two-year contract where the first season is fully guaranteed and the second is a player option).

Clubs like the lowly-but-athletic Brooklyn Nets or the ascendant Detroit Pistons could theoretically carve out enough cap space to offer James a new maximum deal. Or he could take a discount and join a more established contender. The 57-14 Cleveland Cavaliers have All-Stars playing at every position but small forward, after all...

As Pincus notes, "it's a stretch" to project that James would depart for Brooklyn, Detroit, or anywhere else — but he thinks James joining another club this summer is likelier than Hayes departing or Finney-Smith declining his option. In fairness, it seems unlikely Finney-Smith will fetch more money on the open market.

James remains one of the most brilliant offensive players in the league.

In 60 healthy games for the 43-28 Lakers, the 6-foot-9 pro is averaging 24.9 points on .516/.381/.766 shooting splits, 8.4 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.6 blocks a night.

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