Former Los Angeles Lakers player LeBron James announced he was leaving the team only a few weeks ago, but it feels like years have passed since he revealed his decision.
Since his announcement, the Lakers have overhauled their roster and still chase Jonathan Kuminga for what feels like an eternity, while the franchise was just sold for the second time in a year.
Indeed, the previous record for an American sports franchise, which was held by former owner Mark Walter when he bought the team from Jeanie Buss for $10 billion, has been smashed again by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who bought the team for $12.5 billion.
The Lakers, known as the crown jewel in the NBA’s franchise portfolio, are set for their second major upheaval in years, with Walter’s highly analytical approach ending and a new one beginning soon.
However, according to Dave McMenamin’s reporting, if the Lakers had sold before James’ decision, things could have played out differently.
“Maybe. … Communication could have been better [with Bob Iger and Josh Kushner, compared to Mark Walter]. Just a different relationship,” a source in the ESPN report said.
“But the basketball piece was the most important, so maybe not from that standpoint.”
McMenamin has followed James for years, serving as a reporter who is essentially on the LeBron James beat for ESPN.
Given his time covering James and his longstanding NBA reporting, his sources should carry some weight.
On its face, the point has some merit. Lakers ownership under Walter made it clear they were building with Luka Doncic in mind, while James seemed to be pushed aside.
If the franchise had valued James more, he could have stayed, but for both parties, moving on looks like the best option.
Why LeBron James leaving was always the likely outcome
The Lakers got the chance to build a whole new roster around Doncic as their focus, without needing to account for James.
James, meanwhile, will play in Philadelphia with a stacked roster and in a conference without the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs.
If James stayed and didn’t take an extreme pay cut, the Lakers would have been somewhat limited in their ability to make moves and build a team that could cover Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic’s defensive weaknesses, alongside James’ declining play and awkward fit.
The Lakers can now move on from LeBron James and fully begin the Luka Doncic era.
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