LeBron James has spent more than two decades bending the NBA to his will. Four championships, 21 All-Star selections, and a resume that doubles as a history book. But the catch is, for the first time in his 23-year career, James enters a season on an expiring contract. At 40 years old, he’s still logging 24.4 points a night and carrying the highest career minutes total (59,041) in league history. Yet somehow, the most fascinating story is not about what he’s doing on the court. It’s rather about what he’s not doing off of it.
That’s where the intrigue starts. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, James has taken a backseat this summer. There is no roster meddling or behind-the-scenes nudges happening. Just golf swings, family time, and well, the occasional business venture. “My understanding is LeBron James hasn’t been involved at all in Lakers operations,” Charania reported on NBA Today. “He’s gonna report for media day, training camp, and we’ll see how this team looks. There haven’t been any inquiries from LeBron James on what’s going on here… He’s been enjoying his summer, and then he’s gonna report on media day, and we’ll be off to the races from there.”
For a player who has arguably always positioned himself as part-GM, part-superstar, that seems unnatural. Remember, this is the same player who helped engineer moves from Kevin Love in Cleveland to Anthony Davis in Los Angeles. The Lakers’ title in 2020? That roster had James’ fingerprints all over it. For years, he’s set the tone: if you wanted to play next to LeBron, you had to fit the mold. This time? General manager Rob Pelinka built out the roster without a single public peep from No. 23. The Lakers didn’t exactly sit still, either.
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They extended young coach JJ Redick, doubled down on Luka Doncic as the centerpiece of their future, and swung deals for Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, and Adou Thiero. In another era, LeBron might have had a say, or at least a whisper. Instead, Pelinka operated with full autonomy. For once, James wasn’t the gravitational force in every decision. And maybe that’s the point. James’ legacy doesn’t need more boardroom wins.
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It needs moments left on the hardwood. He’s still expected to provide bursts of greatness when the Lakers need them most. If this is the beginning of the end, he wants the story to be written in games, not trade calls. But here’s where it gets tricky. James’ expiring contract changes everything. His $52.6 million player option means he enters the 2025–26 season on an expiring contract, setting up a pivotal summer ahead. For a player who redefined leverage with short deals, player options, and constant control, this is unfamiliar territory.
League executives believe he wanted a one-plus-one extension, the kind of deal that gives security and flexibility. The Lakers didn’t offer it. Rich Paul insists James never asked. What’s clear? He’s playing this year without a safety net. Which leads us to the obvious question: are the Cleveland Cavaliers creeping in?
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LeBron James and the long-standing Cavaliers dilemma
Every time James hits free agency, the Cavaliers’ name comes up. This summer was no different. Agents and executives whispered that Cleveland remains the only plausible destination if he ever leaves Los Angeles. Narratives matter to LeBron, and a farewell tour in his hometown uniform would be the perfect closing chapter. It’s the only alternative that rivals the Kobe Bryant script in purple and gold. But financially, the Cavs can’t make it work without gutting their roster.
Trading for James would mean sacrificing stars like Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen, moves the franchise won’t entertain. The buyout path? Also complicated. With the Cavs sitting above the second apron, league rules prevent them from signing a player coming off such a massive contract. Even if the logistics cleared, would James really want the optics of a buyout, a move that screams desperation more than control? Around the league, opinions split. One agent says LeBron wouldn’t care, as joining the Cavs in the East makes them instant contenders.
Another counters that James has always shied away from buyouts, never switching teams mid-season. For a player obsessed with image, perception matters almost as much as reality. And then there’s his own voice. In February, after the Lakers swung the Doncic trade, James told reporters: “If I had concerns about it, I’d waive my no-trade clause and get up out of here. I’m here right now… I’m committed to the Lakers organization.” If you really look at it closely, this is vintage LeBron. Firm enough to quiet rumors, flexible enough to leave the door cracked. So what does he really want?
More rings? More money? A proper farewell? Maybe all of the above. But as one executive put it bluntly: “He’s put himself in a situation where it’s impossible for him to get everything he wants. He has no leverage here, and he’s not used to that.” The irony is that the Lakers might actually be set up well this year. Doncic enters his first full season as the franchise cornerstone. Ayton and Smart bring balance. The supporting cast looks deeper than it has in years. The Lakers aren’t Oklahoma City-level juggernauts yet, but they’re contenders.
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And for the first time, it doesn’t feel like James alone is propping up the entire operation. That leaves us with a strange but fitting reality: LeBron James, the man who once dictated the direction of franchises, is now just another piece in the puzzle. Not the piece, but rather a part of the picture. If he adjusts, he could preserve his body, extend his career, and maybe even lift a fifth trophy.
If he resists, the season could loop into a standoff between his fading leverage and the Lakers’ new vision. The final chapter of LeBron’s career isn’t written yet. But for the first time, it’s not clear he holds the pen.