REPORTS: LeBron James Might Leave Lakers Sooner Than Anyone Expected

LeBron James has been the mode of rescue for the Lakers, this season, as well as since they signed him as a free agent in 2018. Although he would help the Lakers reach the NBA’s summit in 2020, the franchise has not been able to repeat its success. For any team, the goal is simple; win the title. And this goal remains constant no matter what. So that is the aim for the Lakers too.

Furthermore, when Russell Westbrook donned the Laker jersey, championship expectations rose high. But the Lakers aren’t playing like a championship team this season. Even after their most recent win against the Jazz, they still sit at 9th place in the Western Conference.

As the season progressed, there were several talks of possible trades that the Lakers could make in order to improve their roster. However, they decided not to make any moves. One reason for this was the fact that the Lakers were not able to offer more draft picks apart from the one in 2027. So now the responsibility falls on LeBron to help the team win. In light of this load on the ‘King’, a report has emerged indicating that James could depart LA if no more success can be brought.

WATCH THIS STORY: LeBron James Winning in Michael Jordan Style, Stephen Curry Burning the House Down and Other Top Moments from NBA All-star Game

Is LeBron James on His Way Out?

A recent report from Marc Stein indicated that LeBron could possibly be on his way out of Los Angeles.

As stated earlier, and as mentioned in the report, the Lakers will be able to include additional draft picks as part of trade deals in the summer of 2022. Additionally, the report also mentions that this would be a difficult task considering the fact that other teams do not seem to take an interest in the Lakers roster.

Furthermore, the report also specifies that despite LeBron bringing the Lakers its 17th championship, the franchise could cut ties with him as the franchise did with NBA legend, Jerry West. This could become a reality, especially after the subtle call outs that LeBron James made during the All-Star weekend.

From all of this, it seems like it’s now or never for the ‘King’ to prove himself. And if he does bring the Lakers its 18th title this season, will the Lakers decide to stick with their roster, or make trades to push for another title? The answer is unknown. The only thing that fans can do is wait and watch as the saga unfolds.

READ MORE: LeBron James’ Refusal to ‘Close the Door’ on a Move Back to Cleveland Sends NBA Social Media in Utter Dismay