Marc Stein reveals Lakers' 'preferred scenario' for LeBron James
What he will do once the 2025-26 season ends, however, is anyone's best guess. He could leave the Lakers, or he could possibly continue to play for them. At the same time, there is speculation that the franchise wants to move on from him.
NBA insider Marc Stein wrote on his substack "The Stein Line" that the Lakers' "preferred scenario" is to simply let James walk at the end of this coming season.
'The Lakers' widely presumed preferred scenario for their future is letting James' contract drop off their books after the 2025-26 season.'
The superstar will make $52.6 million this coming season. According to an ESPN report, Los Angeles didn't offer him a contract extension this offseason.
According to at least one other report, the Lakers are just about done with James and are already angling to land another superstar to pair with Luka Doncic within the next couple of years.
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Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic shows off new physique in Men's Health
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Luka Doncic Keeps Losing Weight For The Los Angeles Lakers While Gaining Momentum Toward $369 Million
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 28: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees and Luka Doncic #77 of the Los ... More Angeles Lakers pose for a photo before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on July 28, 2025 in New York, New York. (Photo by New) Who is this dude? 'Just visually, I would say my whole body looks better,' said Luka Doncic, normally the 6-foot-6 version of the Pillsbury Doughboy, delivering one of the understatements of the century to writers in the latest edition of Men's Health magazine. Doncic has done this dieting thing before, and he also his thrown in a few pushups along the way, but this is different. This is serious, and this is dramatic. The Men's Health writers mentioned how Doncic – as the future face of the Los Angeles Lakers over some guy named LeBron James – has spent most of his days this summer 'going from heavy Romanian deadlifts to dumbbell bench presses to lateral bounds, one right after the other.' Where is this coming from, especially since Doncic could float through the rest of his NBA career as pudgy but potent? He is just 26, but he already ranks among the all-time Europeon hoop stars from his Slovian days, and he is flirting with first-ballot status in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Oh, that's right. Doncic knows Saturday is approaching. That's when a thinner (much, much, much thinner) version of Doncic will have a better chance of positioning himself on that NBA deadline day for a $369 million contract in three years with the Lakers. Here's how: Doncic could accept a four-year deal with the Lakers for $222 million. Or he could take three years for around $160 million with a player option in 2028-29, and then he would qualify for a five-year contract worth that $369 million due to the NBA salary cap expected to rise that season. LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 10: Luka Doncic #77 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after ... 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"I'll say this again: Defense wins championships," Harrison told Dallas-area media in April, suggesting the defense thing and the fat thing were the reasons he was willing to suffer the wrath of the Luka-loving folks who dominate their fan base. When the Mavericks held a NBA Draft party last month at American Airlines Center, where they play their home games, thousands of fans chanted 'Fire Nico Harrison' to the top of their lungs, and that was despite the Mavericks winning the No. 1 pick in the draft and grabbing Duke sensation Cooper Flagg. Poor Harrison. Then again, with the thinner (much, much, much thinner) version of Doncic these days, Harrison had a point. Doncic also remained invisible on defense with the Lakers, so Harrison had another point. But it's like this for Doncic. With $369 million within reach, he has more important things to think about, such as banded jab steps and medicine balls.
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📸 Mamba mentality: Barça unveil their new 2025/26 away kit
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