The Lakers offseason operation was criticized for "fooling people" " Does James still have hope for the Lakers when he stays?

This offseason, Lakers fans are probably more stuffy than in Los Angeles' summer - why did LeBron and the Lakers get to this point? The story starts with ESPN's "Explosion Article". First, a reporter revealed that the Lakers planned not to renew their contract with James in the 25-26 season, and they didn't even tell him in advance if the team sold 10 billion. As a result, Doncic received the letter first. Although ESPN later changed his words and said that James learned about selling the team through his agent, this matter still pierced into both sides' hearts. Immediately afterwards, another reporter followed up and said that the Mavericks and the Warriors had contacted Ricky Paul and asked if he could trade James. For a time, the rumors that "the 25-26 season may become the last dance of the Lakers" have stirred up the entire league.

In fact, since the Nuggets swept through the Western Conference Finals in 2023, the Lakers should understand: James' peak period is counting down, and the upper limit of the James-Eyebrow combination is here. But at that time, Lao Zhan was still the absolute core. Even if the management was tight, he had to grit his teeth and strengthen him. Until Doncic, 26, was traded to Los Angeles, the balance was completely broken. The most heartbreaking thing is that when the Lakers decided to exchange Davis for Doncic, even James did not discuss in advance. After the transaction, Zhan called Thomas Brow at the first time, and his voice was full of shock - this is his brother who has been with him for several years. The management changed his words and didn't even say hello?

Some people say that this is the Lakers' "change of dynasties" and no longer regard James' ideas as the first priority; others say that Pelinka keeps confidential because she is afraid of repeating the mistakes of Paul's transaction miscarriage back then. But the changes on the court are more direct: James has changed from an absolute core to a "No. 2 ball holder", and his offensive dominance has been reduced, and he has to frequently top the No. 5 position to fill the holes in the inside. Fortunately, he adjusted quickly and had some chemical reactions with Doncic, but the problem of lineup imbalance was not solved at all - the elimination of the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs last season was proof of this.

What's even more serious is the successive "critical strikes" off the field. After the season, Lakers owners Jenny Bass, Pelinka, Doncic and his agent met in a high-end restaurant, and four people left through the back door and were photographed standing by. The most embarrassing thing is that as the team's "talk" in the past few years, James was not invited to participate in this "core meeting". At the meeting, the Lakers clearly told Doncic: In the future, the team will build a team around you, and we have to follow your characteristics. This is very clear - the era of Zhan is really about to be over.

and then the follow-up to the team selling. Doncic immediately posted a message on social media to congratulate the new boss, but James didn't say anything from beginning to end. It’s not that he doesn’t want to give face, it’s that he’s worried. He gave the Lakers his last peak period, but now the team is about to change hands, but he has become an "outsider".

What makes the outside world think the most is that James executed the 52.6 million player option for the 25-26 season on June 29. You should know that James has signed 8 contracts with the option to take players in his career, which has never been executed before, and he will be re-signed every time. This time it was suddenly "abnormal", who can not think about it? Ricci Paul quickly came out to smooth things over, saying that James understood that the Lakers were planning the future and also valued the opportunity to compete for the championship. But there are contradictions inside and outside - James still wants to win the fifth championship, but the Lakers are calculating the accounts for 27 years.

The Lakers' abacus is loud: In the 27th free market, there are super giants such as Antetokounmpo, Jokic, and Leonard. Now you have to save some money and don't be tied to death by long contracts. So this summer, they strengthened it like "squeezing toothpaste": they signed Laravia who was not very famous for 12 million in two years, picked up Ayton who was cut by the Trail Blazers, and even Finney Smith couldn't keep it - they wanted a four-year long contract, and the Lakers only gave it to 2 years, but Smith switched to the Rockets. What's even more regrettable is that Wiggins traded, and the Heat wanted the Lakers' only first-round pick in the next seven years, and Pelinka directly refused.

On one hand, James is in urgent need of combat power to win the championship, while on the other hand, the Lakers are suppressing the big fish in the future, which cannot be avoided at all. Let’s take a look at the Lakers’ salary chart for the 27-28 season: except for Vanderbilt, Kneckett (team option) and Brownie (team option), everyone’s contracts have expired. To put it bluntly, the Lakers are now "living" - maintaining their basic lineup, paying less luxury tax, and waiting for a big fight in 27 years.

But Zhan can’t afford to wait! He is almost 41 years old, and he counts on his fingers for the rest of his life. He was able to score in the second team of the All-A-Team last season, and his influence on the court is still there. Who is willing to "retirement" like this? If the Lakers continue to "show up and strengthen" this way, James will most likely have to find another player. The most popular ones in the outside world are the Mavericks and the Knights. On the Mavericks, some media mentioned using Garford, Clay, PJ Washington to add James in the first round in 29 years. If it works, Flag, James, Irving and Davis can form a "four top picks team", but the problem is that Irving and the top pick Flag who must be trained have already occupied a lot of ball rights. Can James adapt if he goes?

The Cavaliers are more like the script of "Fallen Leaves Return to the Roots" - the number one in the Eastern Conference last season, the small forward position is short, so James can seamlessly connect. But the Cavaliers' lineup is now chemistry, and it is too risky to replace James with the core. As for the rumors that the Warriors used Butler to exchange single, the Lakers will definitely not do it - sending away a 41-year-old and then a 35-year-old, what are you trying to do?

In fact, the most likely thing is that Zhan will leave the team as a free agent next summer. He held the veto power of the transaction in his hand, and the Lakers dared not give it to him if they were not satisfied with the next company. At that time, he will be able to choose more teams and it will be easier to say goodbye with decent farewell.

To put it seriously, professional sports are so realistic. It’s not that the Lakers don’t want to stay with James, but they have to plan for the next 10 years; it’s not that the Lakers don’t want to live off their lives, but that he really can’t wait for the team’s "team building cycle" for the rest of his time..

But from another perspective, if this "breakup crisis" can help James find a better next player to win the championship, his retirement time may be postponed. After all, who doesn't want to compete for the fifth championship again for the man who said he wanted to "fight until he was 45 years old"? The story of the Lakers continues, and the legend of James is not over. Whether we stay or leave in the future, all we can do is to cherish every minute he is still on the court - after all, watching James play, he really spends less day.