With the Los Angeles Lakers having already been eliminated from the playoffs, they can instead focus on the offseason and how to get back to the NBA Finals. They have a promising team with two stars in Luka Doncic and LeBron James, as well as a rising star in Austin Reaves to build around.
Even so, the Lakers may have just received bad news. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, LeBron is expected to opt in to his 2025-26 player option.
That, on its own, is good news considering that LeBron will be back for his 23rd season and eighth overall with the Lakers.
Nevertheless, Lakers fans had been hoping that LeBron would take a sizable pay cut to give the team more flexibility this summer. Doing so would have opened up the Lakers' ability to use the mid-level exception. That would have given them $14.1 million to use on a player or two to help fill their front-court void.
LeBron James not taking a pay cut hurts the Los Angeles Lakers
Instead, he's expected to opt into his contract, which will pay him $52.6 million next season. Perhaps just as important is the fact that he isn't under contract beyond that. That hints that he could be entering his final season.
Historically, LeBron has signed one-plus-one contracts that give him the option to opt out after a year and sign a new deal. Despite that precedent, his opting in suggests that he doesn't have another year left in him beyond the 2025-26 season.
Having one last year of LeBron gives the Lakers one last crack at contending with him and Luka. Still, they will have to be creative this summer to solve their biggest problem, which is their lack of a starting center.
The Lakers must get creative to solve their biggest problem
There are a few free agent options that should be on their radar, namely Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez and Atlanta Hawks big man Clint Capela. Either would be a much-needed front-court boost, and the Lakers should actually pursue both if they are willing to take a pay cut to play in LA.
Not having the full mid-level exception will definitely hurt their efforts. But they should still have the $5.6 million taxpayer mid-level exception to work with and can use that to sign at least one of those two centers.
Overall, LeBron opting into his player option will ensure that he will play at least one more season in L.A. On the other hand, his opting into his contract means that he won't be taking a pay cut this summer. That all but forecloses on the possibility of the Lakers having the mid-level exception, limiting their ability to improve their roster.