What is Next for the Lakers? LeBron Should Consider Leaving

When the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Luka Doncic as the clock turned to Saturday February 2, a collective shockwave reverberated throughout the NBA and media landscape. 

Doncic, 25 and just coming off a Finals appearance the previous June as a 5-time All-NBA player, now paired with LeBron James, one of the greatest players of all-time who shares with Luka the same mindset of making teammates better and contributing all-around offensive play. 

The duo was expected to lead the Lakers deep into the postseason and potentially to the Lakers’ to their 18th championship, which would tie the Boston Celtics. But that will not happen now. 

The Lakers season ending on Wednesday night could be heard with a resounding thud - 4-1 loss in the first round to a young and hungry (no pun intended) Minnesota Timberwolves team. The Timberwolves won games by 22, 12, 13, and seven. Their lone loss of the series was Game 2 in LA 94-85. 

In what was supposed to be a deep playoff run came to a stop with Rudy Gobert dominating the Lakers for 27 points and 24 rebounds in Game 5 on Wednesday night. The other only player in Timberwolves’ history to register 20/20 in the playoffs is Kevin Garnett, who did so four times. 

JJ Redick elected to go with a small lineup - Doncic, Reaves, Hachimura, Dorian Finney-Smith, and James. More wings to match the Timberwolves’ wing players defensively. Less length in the middle to counter Gobert. Jaxson Hayes saw no minutes and Gobert feasted. 

Lobs for dunks, rebounds and put-back dunks, baseline cuts for dunks. The maligned center who people love to poke and prod at as not tough, not “big”, played tough and big in the biggest playoff game of his life when his team needed him most. 

Anthony Edwards let out a giddy “Yeahhhh! and dapped his teammates as the final buzzer sounded. The Wolves await the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets in Round 2. Golden State leads that series 3-2 with a close out opportunity on Friday. 

The Lakers, though, head home. No James vs. Steph Curry. No Doncic vs. Jokic. No 18th banner. 

Doncic scored 28 points with 9 assists and 7 rebounds in 40 minutes, but missed 11 of 18 shots. He was compromised with a lower body injury. James missed 12 of his 21 attempts, for 22 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists. He too played 40 minutes. Rui Hachimura scored 23 points on 5-for-8 from 3-point range. Austin Reaves was 5-for-14 (2-for-10 from deep) for 12 points. Gabe Vincent was 0-for-2, Jarred Vanderbilt and Maxi Kleber scored 2 points each. 

The Lakers were outrebounded 54-37. They outshot the Wolves from the field 42.3% to 40.4%. They made 11-of-37 treys. The Wolves made a 7 out of 47. The Lakers turned the ball over 15 times, the Wolves 11. Saying that Edwards did not play well is an understatement - 5-for-19, 0-for-11 from 3-point range. Julius Randle - 23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists on 8-for-16 shooting, was aggressive and clutch.

James has a $53.6 million player option. Finney-Smith has one for $15.4 million. Doncic earns $46 million next season. Reaves a shade under $14 million, Hachimura a shade under $18.3 million. 

Doncic is not going anywhere. James, with the option, could elect to return or elect to retire, as he alluded to in his postgame press conference after Game 5’s defeat. It’s the old cliche, but James has nothing left to prove and has accomplished just about everything that you can. 

But the Lakers need to be better, need to get better. Oklahoma City, Minnesota, and even Houston are on the come up. Jokic is not going anywhere. The Grizzlies will be better next season with a fully healthy campaign. 

Trading James seems unthinkable. Because of who he is and what he has done. Bronny would be an add-on in any deal surely. It is no indictment on James to hint that the Lakers should maybe deal him. He wants to win before he leaves the game. He would generate the biggest haul and return for the Laker organization, which they could use to build toward Doncic looking at the future. 

Alternatively, Reaves and Hachimura are dealt. They have cap-friendly contracts especially in this current landscape and can help other teams. They, too, could generate a good haul. It, too, is no indictment on their talents. 

With Jimmy Butler in Golden State, you’d have to think that Cleveland would be the only logical landing spot for James and the place that he would want to go on his farewell tour. The Cavaliers just swept the Miami Heat in impressive fashion and are ready made. 64 wins. James would not need to bear the responsibility and burden like he has in Los Angeles. At 40 going on 41, he has given so much and it is unfair to him to have the responsibility on him. Play point guard in Cleveland, play alongside an all-star in Donovan Mitchell and two big guys in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley who James would excel in the pick and roll with. De’Andre Hunter is a defensive help on the wings. 

James is a billionaire. He does not need the money. $53.6 million is sweet, no doubt. For the average person, asking to slash their yearly salary by so much is an egregious ask. 

But for James, decline your option, and sign back with Cleveland on a significantly smaller deal. 

Go back home. You and your son play back where it all started for the both of you. Farewell tour. Ring No. 5. Retire. 

Better than at age 41 trying to figure things out west with an inexperienced coach and retool a roster that needs a lot of work.