Charles Barkley: Lakers Are Luka Doncic’s Team Now

As speculation swirls once again around LeBron James and what comes next, Charles Barkley says the conversation inside the Lakers’ front office may already have shifted away from LeBron and toward Luka Doncic.

Speaking with Yahoo Sports’ Jason Fitz, Barkley didn’t mince words when asked about the hierarchy in Los Angeles following the blockbuster addition of Doncic in February.

“[LeBron is] on the downside of his career. It’s Luka’s team going forward,” Barkley said.

It’s a sentiment that might have been unthinkable not long ago, but it’s reflective of where things appear to stand during this particular offseason. James, 40, has done little to quiet trade chatter this summer. In fact, he only seems to be fueling it.

He most recently applauded the news that longtime friend and Cavaliers assistant GM Brandon Weems received a contract extension. Meanwhile, James has said nothing about the moves the Lakers have made this offseason.

“By doing what he’s doing, he is absolutely poking the bear … by the way, the Lakers are being passive aggressive back at LeBron,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said recently.

Barkley, who knows firsthand what it’s like to take a backseat in the twilight of a Hall of Fame career, said James is equipped to adjust.

“It’s easy for LeBron because LeBron can play without the ball,” Barkley said. “Luka has a big advantage because Luka has to play with the ball. LeBron is such a great player. He can play without the ball.”

While Barkley made clear that the Lakers now run through Doncic, he emphasized that their biggest concerns lie elsewhere.

“They got to worry about the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Houston Rockets, and the Denver Nuggets,” Barkley said. “The Lakers are going to have a good team, but everything in the West starts with OKC, the Houston Rockets, and the Denver Nuggets.”

For now, there’s no trade, no retirement, and no contract buyout. But if you believe Barkley — and plenty around the league do — the baton in Los Angeles may have already been passed.