LeBron James’ final decision still expected to come down to Lakers, Cavs, or retirement

LeBron James is once again headed toward an uncertain offseason.

The  Lakers star will become an unrestricted free agent this summer for the first time since 2018 and seemingly has not yet decided whether he plans to retire or return for another season.

According to sources who spoke with Ashish Mathur of Lakers Daily, the Lakers have begun preparing for a future built around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Still, that does not necessarily mean the door is closed on James returning.

Both Doncic and Reaves reportedly want James back if he chooses to keep playing, and the three stars are said to maintain a strong relationship despite occasional struggles finding chemistry on the court.

In league circles, the expectation remains fairly simple. If James decides against retirement, he is believed most likely to either re-sign with the Lakers or return to the Cavaliers for a third stint.

The Cavs’ star duo of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell are both expected to reach out this offseason about a possible homecoming, according to the report.

James joined the Lakers in 2018 and led the franchise to the 2020 championship. He remains the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and is still producing at a high level entering his age-42 season.