The Los Angeles Lakers’ transition away from LeBron James appears to have started earlier than expected. According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne on Tuesday, the Lakers met with Luka Doncic last summer and outlined an offseason plan for 2026 that did not include James.
“At that meeting they laid out their plans… in those plans, they did not include LeBron James,” Shelburne said.
The report adds context to James’ decision to leave Los Angeles after eight seasons. Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul informed the Lakers that James intends to continue his career elsewhere in the 2026-27 season, allowing the franchise to move forward with its offseason strategy.
The Lakers had already positioned Doncic as the centerpiece of the next era. In his first full season in Los Angeles, the 27-year-old guard averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds over 64 games while earning an All-Star selection and finishing fourth in MVP voting.
Los Angeles finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 53-29 record, winning the Pacific Division and securing the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets in six games during the first round before being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the conference semifinals.
James remained productive despite being 41 years old. He averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games while shooting 51.5% from the field. He was selected as an All-Star, extending his record run of elite production deep into his 40s.
However, the Lakers’ roster construction increasingly centered around younger players. Austin Reaves emerged as another long-term piece, averaging career highs of 23.3 points and 5.5 assists per game before signing a four-year, $185 million extension.
The shift toward Doncic and Reaves meant James’ departure no longer represents a complete rebuild. Instead, the Lakers enter the 2026 offseason with an established star duo and flexibility to reshape the roster around them.
James’ time in Los Angeles produced one championship, the 2020 title inside the Orlando bubble, and ended a stretch in which the Lakers returned to consistent contention after several seasons outside the playoff picture. His 2025-26 season marked his eighth year with the franchise after arriving as a free agent in 2018.
The next chapter of James’ career remains uncertain. The Golden State Warriors have frequently appeared in speculation due to his relationships with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, although any move would require significant financial maneuvering.
