The conversation around where LeBron James will end his NBA career is gaining traction. According to a report by Yaron Weitzman of Bleacher Report, most team executives and agents believe the league’s all-time leading scorer will finish with the Los Angeles Lakers. Should he depart, the consensus is that the Cleveland Cavaliers are the lone realistic destination.
Los Angeles or Cleveland?
“If he wants to do a farewell tour like Kobe Bryant did, it’s the only other team that makes sense,” one league executive told Weitzman, adding that James “doesn’t want to be like Michael Jordan on the Wizards.”
A return to Cleveland this season is viewed as improbable. If it occurs, executives speculate it would come in 2026 free agency and would require the then-40-year-old to accept a significant pay cut. James, who turns 41 in December, is entering his 22nd season and holds a player option for next summer.
Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka reiterated the organization’s stance. “We would love if LeBron’s story would be he retired a Laker,” Pelinka said to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “That would be a positive story.”
Redick Extended After One Season
Pelinka also addressed the club’s unexpected decision to extend head coach JJ Redick after only one year on the sideline. “We think he’s a special coach with a special voice that’s really helping us define the culture of Lakers excellence,” Pelinka explained. The extension, which arrives with three seasons still left on Redick’s original contract, signals long-term commitment as James’s twilight years overlap with Luka Doncic’s prime.
Doncic Settling In
Doncic, acquired in a February trade, told The Athletic’s Dan Woike he feels “way more comfortable” with the Lakers than he did upon arrival. The Slovenian star credited his EuroBasket 2025 campaign for improving his vocal leadership. “Sometimes it’s great to be a leader and sometimes you have to say things that you don’t want to, but that’s part of being a leader,” he said. Redick added that both James and Doncic are in a good mental space entering the season and that his focus is to “bring out the best version of Luka daily.”
Reaves Drawing Praise
Redick also highlighted the offseason progress of Austin Reaves, noting the guard’s enhanced burst and athleticism. During informal workouts, Reaves has been “the best player in the gym,” Redick told The Athletic’s Law Murray.
The Lakers open training camp next month with questions about James’s long-term future, confidence in their freshly extended coach, and optimism surrounding Doncic and Reaves.
Source: Hoops Wire
