Looking at what the post-LeBron James era could look like for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Making an unlikely run to the Western Conference Finals this past season, the hope of potentially winning another NBA Championship in the LeBron James era was reignited for the Los Angeles Lakers. And that was at the forefront of the Lakers’ priorities heading into the offseason. However, with only one guaranteed year left on his contract with the Lakers, it’s hard not to think about what may be awaiting this franchise in the post-LeBron era.
Even though the LeBron era hasn’t gone as planned in Los Angeles, it’s hard to be mad when the team has already won an NBA title and considering they’re likely going to be a championship contender again this season. Whether or not they can emerge as a legit threat this season remains to be seen, but they’re at least in the conversation heading into the 2023-24 NBA campaign. And, for the most part, when signing LeBron, that’s all you ask for.
The future of the Los Angeles Lakers is very much up in the air
Despite LeBron still being on the roster, the Lakers’ future is still very much uncertain. After this season, all bets are off on this team. That could be viewed as both exciting and scary. Let’s begin to explore what the post-LeBron era could look like for the Lakers in an attempt to calm some of those uncertainties.
When may we see LeBron James retire or leave the Lakers?
Admittedly, it’s almost impossible to predict when LeBron James will retire or even decide to move on from the Los Angeles Lakers. But it would be foolish to suggest that there’s a non-zero chance that it doesn’t happen after this upcoming season. And there are a few reasons why.
For one, LeBron has been vocal about his desire to play on the same NBA team as his son, Bronny James. The fact that he suffered a cardiac arrest episode, there’s no predicting how that may have changed. And two, he can opt out of his current contract with the Lakers to test free agency. There’s also a chance he ends up retiring. LeBron will be 39 this season and that has to be a real possibility at this point in his career.
If the Lakers have another disappointing season, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to explore other options in an attempt to win one more championship. At the same rate, if the Lakers win it all, would he not think about retiring on top (as Michael Jordan did, the first time)?
At the very least, it’s something to think about. Overall, I think it’s safe to say that LeBron has maybe two years (at best) left with the Lakers. We’ll operate under that assumption.
The contracts that are on the books for the Lakers after 2023-24
Working under the assumption that LeBron James could very well be gone in the next 1-2 seasons, here are the contracts that are on the books for the Los Angeles Lakers beyond the 2023-24 season:
- Anthony Davis (contract runs through 2027-28)
- Rui Hachimura (contract runs through 2025-26)
- Austin Reaves (contract runs through 2026-27)
- Gabe Vincent (contract runs through 2025-26)
- Jalen Hood-Schifino (contract runs through 2026-27)
- Maxwell Lewis (contract runs through 2026-27)
* Of note: LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell, Jaxson Hayes, and Cam Reddish all have player options for 2024-25.
There is an outside chance that the Lakers could completely retool their roster around Anthony Davis, who recently signed a max extension with the team, and Austin Reaves. The Lakers would also have a strong core of other supporting cast players to help them move into the new chapter for the team.
For as good as AD is, and with all due respect to Reaves, the Lakers would need another star-level talent to compete at a high level in the Western Conference post-LeBron. With money to spend, and a few tradeable assets, the Lakers could have options heading into next summer or the summer of 2025.
What other moves could the Lakers make?
If the Los Angeles Lakers wanted to keep pace as a championship contender in the Western Conference post-LeBron, a splash move via free agency or trade would have to be on the horizon. That would need to happen as soon as next summer of even in 2025.
Here is a list of top free agents that would be on the open market each of the next two summers:
Top 2024 FAs
- Pascal Siakam
- Buddy Hield
- Klay Thompson
- DeMar DeRozan
- James Harden
Top 2025 FAs
- Ben Simmons
- Jamal Murray
- Brandon Ingram
- Paul George
- OG Anunoby
- Jrue Holiday
- Kawhi Leonard
- Lauri Markkanen
- Malcolm Brogdon
- Myles Turner
On top of those possibilities, there is also a trove of other star-level players that could be had via trade. A few of the next slate of stars that could find their way to the trade block next are Joel Embiid, Zach LaVine, Donovan Mitchell, Trae Young, and Karl-Anthony Towns. That’s not even considering the surprise star that may ask for out in the next 1-2 seasons.
If they wanted, the Lakers could attempt to add one of these star-level talents in a post-LeBron era. What’s an ideal possibility, considering this list, for the Lakers? Off the top of my head, a trio of Jamal Murray, Austin Reaves, and Anthony Davis could be something that would excite fans in a post-LeBron era.
It’s fun to think about but it’s completely impossible to predict how the next couple of seasons go for the Lakers and how LeBron plays into them. But a post-LeBron era is something that the Lakers have to already be thinking about.