The Lakers era alternating: Doncic takes over, James will leave the team after the 2025-26 season

When the NBA free market opens in 2025, a series of actions by the Los Angeles Lakers management are reshaping the future picture of this traditional giant. According to well-known journalist Marc Stein, the Lakers have clearly shifted their focus to 23-year-old Luca Doncic, while LeBron James will leave the team as a free agent after the 2025-26 season. This heralds one of the most dominant eras in NBA history, heading towards its curtain call with the management’s proactive choice.

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The turning point of the Lakers' power change began with the change of ownership in June 2025. The first high-level strategic meeting after the new boss Mark Walter took office selectively invited Doncic instead of James to attend. This decision was interpreted by league observers as a symbolic power transfer ceremony - within the team, Doncic not only obtained four years of $229 million in maximum salary renewal and transaction veto, but also took over the discourse power of the tactical system construction. Head coach JJ Redick publicly stated during the summer league: "We will build a more spatial and mobile offensive system around Luca, which requires adaptive adjustments to all players. "

For James, who is about to turn 41, this transformation has brought unprecedented challenges in his career. Although he still contributed 25.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists last season and was selected for the All-A-League second team, the fact that management completely excluded Anthony Davis in the decision-making process of trading Doncic for him has revealed the team's strategic turn. According to the senior scout report, James still maintains the competitive level of the top 20 in the league, but his defensive mobility and physical fitness reserves are no longer able to meet the Lakers' youthful and rapid team building needs.

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The potential suitors in the free market are closely watching the movements of the historic star. The Dallas Mavericks are regarded as the biggest favorite because of their historical origins with Coach Kidd and their tacit cooperation with Kyrie Irving, but the team clearly stated that they are unwilling to dismantle the existing lineup for the elderly stars. The Golden State Warriors' "Death Five" system is theoretically compatible with James, but the pressure of cap space makes it difficult to provide an ideal offer. The intentions of the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers are more reflected in business value considerations. The former requires superstars to boost the box office of Madison Square Garden, while the latter may open the door to James' "Fallen Leaves Return to the Roots" script.

From the perspective of the evolution of the league pattern, the decisions of the Lakers management reflect a profound change in the construction concept of contemporary NBA teams. According to statistics from ESPN Data Lab, the average age of core players in the teams winning the championship in the past five years has dropped from 30.2 to 27.8 years, and the salary structure is becoming more rejuvenated. Robert Pelinka, vice president of basketball operations at Lakers, made a representative statement during the summer league: "Modern basketball's requirements for athletic ability, spatial adaptability and defensive rotation are driving a fundamental change in the logic of team building. " In this context, even if James still maintains the elite-level game influence, the structural contradiction between his $52.63 million salary share and the team's long-term plan is difficult to reconcile.

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When James calmly executed the player options in July 2025, the decision itself has become a footnote to the changing times. Compared with the uproar caused by the "decision" in 2010, the expectations of joining the Lakers in 2024 are now showing a rare rational restraint in the professional sports world. The Lakers did not choose to buy out or trade fiercely, and James did not publicly express his contract renewal appeal. This "decent breakup" model may be a reflection of the mature operation of the business alliance. As Sports Illustrated commented: "When the influence of legendary stars begins to be misaligned with the team's development cycle, a calm farewell can achieve each other's decency than forced retention. "

Looking back at the threshold of the summer of 2025, James' Lakers career has engraved with enough brilliant moments: the 2020 Disney Park championship trophy, the brilliant night of crowning the historical scoring champion in 2023, and countless classic moments that have rewrited records. And when Doncic practiced a back-reclining jump shot in the training hall, the retired jersey above Staples Center was witnessing the opening of another dynasty's reincarnation. This is perhaps the cruelest and most fascinating nature of professional sports – all great stories must end at some point, just to leave room for writing for new legends.