James relationship with the Lakers is a bit cold! Team Note: He always has the possibility of leaving

On May 23, the well-known Lakers team reporter Buha said on the show that James' relationship with the Lakers was sometimes a little cold in the past few years, and he always had the possibility of leaving the Lakers. In the latest podcast, Buha said: "I mean, LeBron (James) does always have the possibility of leaving, as we have reported many times - not just me, journalist Sam Amick has also reported that the relationship between the two sides has sometimes been a bit cold in the past few years, and has not been so harmonious. But I said before, I think LeBron will still be a Lakers player next season, and the only question is whether he will choose to execute the player option or jump out of the contract and re-sign."

James has a $52.2 million player option for the 2025-26 season. Although he has not publicly promised to execute options or test the free agent market, the Lakers' offseason plan is likely to depend on his decision. Although Buha's remarks are not disclosed for the first time, they highlight potential contradictions reportedly existed since James joined the Lakers. James, who will turn 41 later this year, will usher in his 23rd season of his NBA career next season and his eighth season for the Lakers - his longest experience for a single team. Despite his age, he still maintained a high-level performance in the 2024-25 season: playing 70 games, averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game, shooting 51.3% from the field and 37.6% from three-pointers, helping the Lakers achieve 50 wins and rank sixth in the MVP voting.

However, the Lakers ended in disappointment: they were eliminated by the Timberwolves in the first five matchups of the Western Conference playoffs. The result has sparked speculation about the restructuring of the lineup and whether James would consider a salary cut to help management replenish the depth of the lineup around him and Doncic.

James' Lakers' career so far -

2019: Not making the playoffs

2020: Win the championship

2021: Eliminated in the first round of the playoffs

2022: Not making the playoffs

2023: Loss in the division finals

2024, 2025: Eliminated in the first round of the playoffs

The Lakers exchanged Doncic from the Mavericks through a heavy trade on the trading deadline and sent Anthony Davis to Dallas. Now led by James and Doncic, the team is under tremendous pressure - it is necessary to build a competitive championship-winning squad before James finally retires.

Although Buha expects James to stay in Los Angeles, these remarks suggest that internal relations could affect the development of the Lakers' offseason strategy—including contract negotiations, free agent decisions, and the use of middle-class exceptions or veteran base salary.

The Lakers' future is closely linked to James' stay or stay. Speculation may continue throughout the summer until he formally decides whether to execute the player option.