LeBron James has not made a decision about his future. His future remains in major doubt as we head into free agency at the end of this month. One of the most connected insiders in the sport has made a bold prediction about James’ future with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Sam Amick Says LeBron James Could Leave the Lakers
The picture he has painted is one of genuine uncertainty. The possibility of retirement is real, a return to the Lakers is possible, and Golden State has been circling for years. Now, on an appearance on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back, Amick identified a specific financial scenario that could make a Warriors move the most likely outcome of all.
“I think if Austin gets paid in the kind of way that keeps him in town, then there’s not enough money for LeBron to feel respected and then I could see him going up the coast and maybe doing the Warriors thing. So I feel like there’s just not enough money to make all those guys happy with the Lakers,” he said.
The 28-year-old guard holds a player option heading into the offseason and has made clear through his representative that he wants a four to five-year deal, not a short-term extension. Reaves averaged 23.3 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 rebounds in 51 games and has grown into a legitimate co-star alongside Luka Dončić.
The Lakers will mostly not let him walk this year. But locking him into a lucrative deal severely limits their freedom to bring back a 41-year-old James.
James has averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games this year while shooting 51.5% from the field at 41 years old. He may not be a player willing to accept a mid-level exception, considering the impact he’s had on the team since arriving in Los Angeles.
As Amick noted in an earlier Athletic piece co-written with Dan Woike, the Lakers have increasingly structured their long-term plans around Dončić rather than James.
The Warriors’ interest, meanwhile, has been building all season and is described by team sources as serious heading into the summer. Golden State already has Stephen Curry, 38, and Jimmy Butler III, 36, on the books for nearly $120 million combined. James joining on anything close to a market deal is almost impossible given that structure.
As things stand, James’ decision remains unknown. But it’s clear that he would have to take a pay cut for the Lakers to build their team if he wishes to stay in Los Angeles, that is.
