Charles Barkley: LeBron James needs to move on from Lakers

Charles Barkley has seen enough. He thinks it is time for LeBron James to get out of Los Angeles. Or at least play for someone besides the Lakers.

“LeBron is going to have to move on at some point. I mean, it is what it is,” Barkley said on the BetMGM Network. “You know, he’s been there, even though he’s been putting up good numbers, they haven’t been successful in probably four years.”

That was just the start. Barkley also called the Mavericks the second-best team in the West, behind only the defending champion Thunder. Which is another way of saying he thinks the Lakers are nowhere near the top.

James has done little to quiet speculation about his future. His agent, Rich Paul, set the tone back in June with a carefully worded statement to ESPN. Paul thanked the Lakers while noting LeBron “wants to make every season he has left count.”

That was widely read as a warning. Build a contender or risk losing him.

Easier said than done. James is making $52.63 million this year. Under the new CBA, moving that contract is next to impossible. The Lakers, meanwhile, are building around Luka Doncic. Good for the future. Maybe not so good for a 40-year-old trying to win right now.

“It’s already probably Luka’s team now,” Barkley added. “You don’t sign, trade for Luka Doncic, give him all that money, and it’s not his team.”

LeBron’s own words at the end of last season hinted at frustration. After the Lakers were bounced by Minnesota, he pointed to a lack of size inside.

“My guy [Anthony Davis] said what he needed, and then he was gone the following week,” James said, recalling Davis’ January plea for help at center. Davis was traded to Dallas for Doncic soon after.

Despite that split, James and Davis dropped a cryptic hint on social media about wanting to reunite. For now, the Lakers will try to fill the void with former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton.

Barkley’s advice, though, was simple. If LeBron wants one last serious shot at a title, he may have to find it somewhere far from Hollywood.

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