NBA Rumors: Insider Believes Lakers Will Have Tough Time Keeping LeBron James

LeBron James has one year left with the Los Angeles Lakers, after which a decision needs to be made by the four-time NBA champion.

The four-time NBA MVP will be 38-years-old by the time his deal with the purple and gold runs out. In the eyes of some, the wise money is that James may either stick with the Lakers or join a team on a short-term deal with hopes of winning another NBA title before calling it quits.

There is also the possibility of him calling it a career although the 18-time All-Star has shown that he can still play at a high level, something any NBA team would surely consider.

But according to an NBA Insider, Jossi Gozlan of Hoops Hype, James may not end up extending his stay in Los Angeles.

He points out how James may not sign an extension on June 30, 2023, especially after their disastrous 2021-22 season. Also, the fact that he can still play at a premiere level means James can get big money from other teams who are bent on winning an NBA title.

A lot of that will depend on how the coming season will turn out for the Lakers. Despite having Anthony Davis and the addition of Russell Westbrook last offseason, the purple and gold failed to advance to the NBA playoffs.

Injuries to James and Davis told heavily, raising questions on how Lakers’ management was able to build the franchise. It is possible this was not given much attention although a lot of hope was pinned on Westbrook who is a former NBA MVP and notorious for averaging huge triple-double numbers.

The Lakers will be changing it up this season, including a new head coach. If James likes what he sees, there is a chance he could stay on with the purple and gold and possibly make it the last stop of his illustrious NBA career.