"That's his call. He may move on" - NBA writer believes the Lakers would be foolish to let LeBron go

“That’s his call. He may move on” – NBA writer believes the Lakers would be foolish to let LeBron go originally appeared on Basketball Network.

LeBron James exercised his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers, somehow easing fans’ worries. However, Bron made it clear that he wants nothing less than to compete for a title and will keep tabs on the Purple & Gold’s offseason moves.

For the Lakers, LeBron opting in is a massive sigh of relief. However, L.A. needs to do its part and get more quality players to help it vie for a title. Failure to do so does not rule out the possibility that James may consider a move elsewhere.

“That’s his call. He may move on and try it somewhere else. I think it’s up to them to talk that out and to see what’s best in everybody’s interest,” book author Roland Lazenby opined on Sports Bytes Philippines.

Bron’s age is just a number

For Lazenby, age should not be an issue. James has shown he can still play through an entire season — something the veteran journalist branded beyond remarkable.

“He has shown that he’s very capable of laying his heart on the line for an entire season. He is remarkable beyond remarkable,” the 73-year-old scribe said. “I think it would be a blow to the Lakers not to have him back,” he added.

Hence, it would be remote to think James would play elsewhere next season. His contract includes a no-trade clause, meaning only LeBron can alter that if he wants out.

So far, some inquiries from unnamed teams have allegedly been regarding a potential LBJ trade. A big issue is Bron’s huge salary, although nothing is impossible.

“There were a few inquiries from eyebrow-raised teams, sources said, just to gauge whether this was something or nothing. For now, there is no action. But it is surely being monitored,” per Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

A LeBron trade won’t make sense

With James possibly retiring soon, it would make no sense for any team to push for a trade for him seriously. After the 2025-26 season, there is no telling if LBJ will continue to play, meaning he could be a one-year rental.

Also, any team bold enough to trade for him would have to give up a lot. That package may include multiple young quality players who could evolve into future stars. With that in mind, Bobby Marks had a valid point when he said that the trade market for James is not that high.

“I talked to numerous teams and asked that same question: Would you give up basically the farm, and basically you’d have to give up five players to go get LeBron James for one year?” the ESPN insider shared. “The unanimous answer is no.”

Hence, James is likely to closely monitor the Lakers’ actions this offseason. They already lost one quality player, Dorian Finney-Smith, who is now with the Houston Rockets, which left fans irate.

Their first official signing was Jake LaRavia, reportedly the first player L.A. contacted when free agency opened, per Dan Wolke of The Athletic. The 6-foot-7 forward, who played for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Sacramento Kings, is expected to replace Finney-Smith.

After LaRavia, the Lakers have also reportedly come to terms with Deandre Ayton. The top pick of the 2018 NBA Draft fits in the gaping hole in the middle for the Purple & Gold, so it will be interesting to see how everything works out.

Even with Ayton proving he is a double-double machine, his stints with the Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers have been underwhelming. However, if Deandre brings some intensity around the paint to help James and Luka Doncic, better days could be ahead.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.

“That’s his call. He may move on” – NBA writer believes the Lakers would be foolish to let LeBron go

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