NBA Analyst Predicts LeBron James Will Leave Lakers for West Coast Rival
· Yahoo Sports
LeBron James’ basketball future remains unknown, but one analyst thinks he’ll end up playing next season, only not for the Los Angeles Lakers but instead for a West Coast rival.
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Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report believes James will end up with the Golden State Warriors for the 2026-27 season, something he attributes to the Lakers having higher concerns.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) stands on the court in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena on Jan 28, 2026.He actually indicated that James would be something of a Plan B for the Lakers.
Why wouldn’t the Lakers want LeBron James back?
The issue isn’t as much James, who “continues to be one of the most powerful players in the association,” but instead who else is on the team, Pincus wrote.
“Building properly long-term around Dončić is the priority,” he said. “The Lakers have high hopes to take a step forward this summer, and that’s without James. If their plans fail, that could lead to one more season with the future Hall of Famer.”
That tracks also with NBA insider Jovan Buha, who said the Lakers are prioritizing re-signing guard Austin Reaves over James.
So if LA doesn’t want him back, where does James go?
LeBron James, Steph Curry could go from rivals to teammates
King James is chasing one last title, the Bay Area could be a great place to do it.
“Steve Kerr agreed to continue coaching the Golden State Warriors,” Pincus said. “Steph Curry will get an extension with the franchise, focusing on the short-term run with Jimmy Butler, who should be healthy from a knee injury well before the All-Star break, Draymond Green, and Kristaps Porziņģis.”
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It may be a while before we know where James ends up, and friends of his like newly signed Ram Myles Garrett are hoping he’ll stay.
“I’m still in the moment of just taking my time,” James said earlier this year on his “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash. “I haven’t even really thought about it too much. Obviously, I understand that I’m a free agent and I can control my own destiny… but like, I haven’t even really got to that point. I haven’t even taken my family vacation yet, which is going to happen after Memorial Day. That’s kind of the thing at the forefront of my mind.”
“I think at some point in June, late June, as July rolls around, free agency starts to get going, and as July rolls around and maybe into August, we’ll start to kind of get a feel of what my future may look like,” James added.
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