With doubts looming over the future of both the franchise and the superstar, LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are at a crossroads this offseason.
When the Lakers acquired Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks in a blockbuster trade prior to the trade deadline last season, it was evident that the dynamics of the club had changed. While LeBron remains a generational talent, the message was hard to miss: the Lakers are now building around Dončić, their new franchise cornerstone.
James, 40, opted into the final year of his contract earlier this summer, keeping him in purple and gold for now — but also setting the stage for potential free agency next offseason. If he hits the open market, there’s little doubt multiple teams will line up to make their pitch.
One high-profile voice is already urging him toward a particular destination. On First Take, Stephen A. Smith floated the idea of a third stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“It’s got to the point where I think it warrants it, bro: why don’t you just come back to Cleveland and end your career?” Smith said. “He’d have a better chance to win in Cleveland than he would in L.A. The road through the Western Conference is arduous to say the least.”
The thought of LeBron teaming up with Donovan Mitchell is an enticing one for Cavs fans — and given his continued elite production, it’s hardly a sentimental fantasy. Last season, James suited up for 70 games and posted 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per night, shooting an efficient 51.3% from the field and 37.6% from deep.
Cleveland, meanwhile, finished atop the Eastern Conference in the regular season before sweeping the Miami Heat in the first round. Their playoff run ended abruptly in the second round, falling in five games to the Indiana Pacers.
A return home to Ohio would be headline-grabbing and storybook-perfect — but for now, it’s only one of several possibilities. With free agency looming in 2026, the basketball world will be watching to see whether LeBron James chooses to finish his career under the bright lights of Los Angeles, chase another ring elsewhere, or once again don the wine and gold.
