One of the big issues facing the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason is whether LeBron James will be back. Yes, there is no doubt that he can still play and compete at a high level. However, the question is where?
James has a player option with the Lakers, which he could easily opt into. But because of the arrival of Luka Doncic and the need to build around the Slovenian with players who maximize his potential, FS1’s Ric Bucher said he’d rather have “King James” take his talents to either the Dallas Mavericks or New York Knicks.
“He goes to Dallas, and he’s the player-coach, and he has AD and Kyrie because that would be entertaining to me. Or he goes to New York because New York has wanted him forever. And he’s still in a huge market. They finally get their opportunity to have LeBron James. It may not be the time that they wanted him, but I would say one of those two places,” suggested Bucher.
Mavs and Knicks make sense
The Mavs are rumored to be eyeing a big star this summer, with Kevin Durant’s name surfacing as a possibility. Dallas reportedly tried to acquire KD before the trade deadline, but it did not materialize. If LeBron chooses to decline his player option with the Lakers, he may be the better fit as the third star behind Kyrie and AD because he has won a championship with both.
Meanwhile, the Knicks were reportedly LeBron’s first choice in 2010, and they had a mutual interest in signing him. Unfortunately, James and Chris Bosh ended up going to Miami to play with Dwyane Wade. There were rumors that Bron considered New York again in 2018, but his wife wanted him to go to L.A.
While both Dallas and New York make sense for LeBron, Bucher said that he expects James to pick up his $52.6 million player option and remain a Laker. While that would be a good business decision for Jeanie Buss’ franchise, LBJ coming back would not help them return to championship contention.
While LeBron and Luka showed that they could coexist and complement each other on the basketball court, they could not get the Lakers past the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs. Of course, one can argue that the rescinded Mark Williams trade could have made a difference. However, Bucher sees it differently.
“Seeing him with the Lakers is a difficult fit. It’s because you’re trying to turn the page and make this Luka Doncic’s team. You can’t fully do that as long as LeBron James is in a Lakers uniform. That’s just the reality. It’s not his fault…For the same reason that Kevin Durant and Paul George, and all these guys never came to the Lakers. Because he takes up all the oxygen in the room because he’s LeBron James,” added Bucher.
James is projected to earn a spot in one of the three All-NBA teams, which will be announced later this postseason. LeBron is also expected to return to an unprecedented 23rd NBA season. However, it will be interesting to see if “King James” finishes his career in Los Angeles.
