LA Lakers already preparing for LeBron James exit, and the superstar is now in an awkward position

The Lakers might move on from LeBron James soon

Even though James has been spectacular as he ages, Father Time remains undefeated. The Lakers will look towards the future with Doncic as the centerpiece and not James. That will be a departure from the past seven years, but it is necessary for the long-term future.

In this offseason, the Lakers made key moves by signing Deandre Ayton and adding wing depth with Jake LaRavia. Despite their potential impact, the most important goal for the Lakers’ front office is to secure Doncic’s long-term commitment.

Doncic could leave as a free agent in the 2026 offseason, so establishing talks for a contract extension is crucial. The Slovenian guard can get a significant contract that could reach up to $406 million.

With this focus, it might not be the best situation for James’ future with the Lakers. His agent, Rich Paul, already detailed the opt-in decision in late July 2025. With that, James is in a precarious position in the 2026 offseason.

“Whether the 2025-26 season is to be James’ final season in the NBA is up to him. But if he wanted the kind of Hollywood ending that only the Lakers can give legends of the game, the release date was set,” Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst said in their ESPN article.

“Spring 2026. Luka Doncic in, LeBron James out. The Lakers would, of course, celebrate him the way they did Kobe Bryant on his retirement tour back in 2016, if that’s what James ultimately decided.”

Doncic is the logical choice for the long-term future

Despite James’ reputation and legacy, Doncic is the logical choice to build around. At only 26, Doncic has more potential to tap into. His game does not require elite athleticism, so he will be playing for a long time.

James is an ageless player, but shedding his huge salary could open up so many possibilities for the Lakers. If the 2025-26 season is his last with the Lakers or even the NBA, they will be more interesting.

They have the pull to draw in more players to Los Angeles and play for the team. At the same time, they will construct the team with Doncic in mind as the centerpiece. They won’t require James anymore, which will be a sad day for the fans.