The Lakers are preparing for a blockbuster move in the 2026 offseason by preserving cap space and holding onto key future draft picks—specifically their 2026, 2031, and 2033 first-rounders—for a potential trade to find Luka Doncic's ideal co-star.
The Los Angeles Lakers are in win-now mode—at least on the surface. With 40-year-old LeBron James still playing at an All-NBA level, star Austin Reaves, newcomer Deandre Ayton, and franchise centerpiece Luka Doncic, it looks like the Lakers are going all in.
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But are they really?
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, LeBron has concerns that the organization is more focused on the future than the present.
"He feels clearly that the Lakers are more in a futuristic mindset," Charania reported on Sirius XM NBA Radio.
That view is supported by The Athletic's Dan Woike, who reports the team is prioritizing long-term flexibility.
Per the same report, the LA Lakers are reportedly keeping their salary cap clear for the summer of 2026, when they'll be able to use their 2026, 2031, and 2033 first-round picks in a major trade—possibly to find the ideal co-star for Doncic.
Now, Luka is viewed as the future of the franchise.
That long-term vision, however, may not align with LeBron's timeline. Even at 40, he remains remarkably productive. Last season, he played 70 games and averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists.
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All signs point to the Lakers planning to move on from LeBron by spring 2026, according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst.
"The Lakers had already made their statement in not offering James a contract beyond this season," they wrote.
"Whether the 2025-26 season is to be James' final season in the NBA is up to him," ESPN added. "But if he wanted the kind of Hollywood ending that only the Lakers can give legends of the game, the release date was set. Spring, 2026. Luka Doncic in, LeBron James out."
James has already opted into his $52.6 million player option for the 2025–26 season and holds a no-trade clause in his contract. But with the franchise looking ahead, the end of the LeBron era in Los Angeles may already be on the calendar.
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