LeBron’s Future Remains Unknown, But The Lakers Are On Notice

There were no cryptic indications about retirement this time. LeBron James brushed off all questions about a potential retirement after his season ended Monday night in a 4-1 Gentleman Sweep to the Denver Nuggets.

He was non-committal on all suggestions, saying he hasn't even thought about playing next season. Instead, he said he was focused on the upcoming decisions of his son Bronny James, his younger son Bryce's AAU basketball, his daughter's volleyball, and his wife's entrepreneurial affairs before preparing for Team USA training camp in July.

"I haven't even really thought about it to be honest with you," James said. But while last year he said he "had to think about it" with regards to retirement, it was fairly obvious that it wasn't weighing over him like it did after last year's elimination by Denver.

If we're going to be real: James is coming back. That's speculation, but there is simply no way James is leaving without a Nike-marketed farewell tour. You can say that it's egotism, but in reality, it's business. James will play one more season, either with Bronny or perhaps against him. He'll attempt to become just the second player in NBA history to play 22 seasons (Vince Carter). This might be his last one. It might not, though it's clear the wear and tear is getting to be too much even for him.

This will not be James' last NBA game. He didn't confirm that in his press conference, but the sheer absence of foreshadowing and the unlikelihood of any pomp or circumstance in the moment is proof enough.

A King does not exit quietly, and the lion in winter still roars. James will be heard on the floor again.

But whether that's with the Lakers is another question.

In the last question of the press conference, James was asked if he'd considered if this would be his last game with the Lakers.

"Uh…..I'm not going to answer that. Appreciate you," James said.

And then he dropped the mic.

Let the games begin.

James has a $51 million player option for next season he can decline and enter free agency. You need to understand the full context of the situation to grasp what this really means. Around the trade deadline, rumors were swirling that James, frustrated with the Lakers front office's refusal to trade for various targets (several represented by Klutch Sports, his own representation along with that of Anthony Davis), might want a change of scenery.

Ultimately, James wasn't traded, and reports surfaced afterward that was instead interested in signing a new multi-year big-money deal with the Lakers to finish his career.

But that was two months ago, when there was hope the Lakers could get healthy, get a playoff spot, and make another run for a championship.

Instead, the Lakers barely made it out of the 9-10 matchup, played in the play-in tournament for the third time in four years, and exited in the first-round. It has now been four years since James played in a Finals when he won the title in the 2020 Orlando bubble.

Since then, there have been clashes with the front office over trading for Russell Westbrook, then not trading Russell Westbrook, then who was to blame for trading for Russell Westbrook, then roster building, and this season, coaching friction.

After the Nuggets eliminated the Lakers, the Athletic immediately dropped the predictable article on the Lakers coaching turmoil. There have been reports that James has not been in Darvin Ham's corner this entire season. James grew more and more visibly frustrated with various coaching decisions as the season went on, and his fellow superstar (and Klutch client)  Anthony Davis called out Ham during the Nuggets series.

League insiders were surprised the Lakers did not make a move for Bulls guard Zach LaVine or Dejounte Murray this season.

"Everyone in the league knew Klutch wanted the Lakers to get one of those guys," one league source said earlier this season.

So now you have a team that was short on talent that tried to run back the team that made a miracle run in last year's playoffs vs. an injured Grizzlies team, and a Warriors team that, with the benefit of hindsight, looks like a faded shell of its former championship self, only to be swept. They added small pieces like Taurean Prince and Gabe Vincent, none of whom made an impact.

The Lakers competed with the Nuggets. They hung with the Nuggets. They pushed the Nuggets.

They won one game. At home. They gave up four halftime leads, three double-digit leads (and a nine-point lead in Game 5), led for 75% of the series, and still suffered the Gentleman's Sweep.

That is not a team befitting a King.

Maybe James' very purposeful ambiguity about his Lakers future was simply a Bronny question. Maybe it's entirely whatever team arranges to draft the younger James with the pre-arranged agreement from the elder that he'll sign will get him.

However, the more likely interpretation is built on the long history of how James has operated. He continuously took small contracts with player options with the Cavaliers in order to always keep them on their toes. Even after the 2016 title, he constantly applied pressure for the team to have to pursue trades and upgrades. It's leverage, and James knows how to apply it.

It should come as no surprise then, that the Athletic reported the following Monday night following the Lakers' elimination:

It’s anticipated James, ahead of his June 29 option date, will want to see how the Lakers manage the offseason and their approach to building the roster around him and Davis. Both routes — opting in and opting out — are on the table for James. He places importance on having comprehensive and well-rounded depth around him, which could mean the Lakers explore trades in the lead-up to that player option, sandwiched between the NBA Draft, which begins June 26, and the opening of free agency on June 30.

What’s more, team sources say the Lakers are very open to the prospect of helping LeBron fulfill his dream of playing with his son Bronny by potentially drafting him.

Let me simplify that down: Do what I want, or I'm gone.

This is the bargain you make with James. You sacrifice control of your organization and accept the stress of always having to perform at the highest level, and in return, you get James and the success and money he brings.

But James, in large part due to the legacy impact that comes with being a Laker and the business benefits of being located in LA for his off-court endeavors (as well as a very comfortable life for his wife and kids) gave the Lakers a longer leash than he ever did other teams. The Lakers never operated under the hanging blade of James' free agency, which made them sweat. He signed an extension after the extension. It was the 2020 title and their acquisition of Anthony Davis. It was also everything that comes with being in LA and a Laker.

But with less than three years left in arguably the greatest career of any basketball player in history, James just flipped the hourglass upside down. James is smart enough to know if this team is good enough for him, and it hasn't been since 2020.

James will want a new coach, one he prefers. He'll want a third star. He'll want a new massive contract, and in all likelihood, if it's what Bronny wants, he'll want them to draft his son this summer.

Owner Jeanie Buss is once again dealing with questions about whether another Buss sibling should take over for her the way she took over for her brother. President of Basketball Operations Rob Pelinka is starting to catch heat for repeated failings. So far, there's been a united front from the Lakers front office to maintain control of the franchise along with the requisite PR work to reflect a united front with James and Klutch.

So the question is whether they can all get in a room, come to an agreement, give James what he wants, and finish this marriage that brought one title and one deep playoff run since.

The most likely outcome, the one that makes the most sense for all parties involved from the one perspective that matters most — money — is that the Lakers and James find an agreement and he remains with the team to the end.

But James will not be giving them the comfort of knowing they've got him, this time. They have to prove it.

What's amazing is that James is still able to exert this kind of leverage when he turns 40 next season. Giving a player entering the final two seasons of his career a contract worth hundreds of millions will present a dilemma. There will be internal questions about whether it's time for the Lakers to pivot and resume the work of maintaining the franchise's prestige and not acting as caretaker for LeBron's legacy.

For many, this season was one to marvel at what he could still do, what he could still give on the court. Most of the basketball world is focused on honoring him in the twilight of his career.

But as always, LeBron James is not here for what you want for him. He's set the agenda for his career and legacy from day one and has put in the work to achieve it. This will end how he wants.

The Lion in Winter isn't ready to lay still just yet. The question is where he'll make his Kingdom for the the last hunt.

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