LeBron James informs Lakers he will play elsewhere next season

Lakers star LeBron James will no longer be Lakers star LeBron James. Instead, it appears, he’ll be another team’s star.

Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, James has informed the Lakers that he will not return to the team in free agency. Agent Rich Paul was cited as the source of the report.

The Warriors and Cavaliers are two teams under consideration as James’ next destination, sources told Hoops Wire. But there could be more, including the Heat, who just landed Giannis Antetokounmpo.

James, 41, spent eight seasons in Los Angeles, winning a championship in the Disney bubble in 2020. Since then, it’s been fairly rocky with multiple early-round playoff exits. His first full season alongside Luka Doncic ended with the Lakers getting swept by the Thunder in the second round. (Though Doncic was injured and did not play.)

Still, there seemed to be some uneasiness between James and LA headed into this offseason. Now, for the first time since 2018, he’s taking his talents somewhere else — perhaps for one final season.

“Lakers president Rob Pelinka and Rich Paul spoke a short time ago about the four-time champion’s plans, sources said. James chose to inform the Lakers well before start of free agency tonight out of courtesy and appreciation for their run together, and to allow LA to conduct its offseason business,” Charania reported.

Hoops Wire will have much more on this story as the news becomes available.