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If it wasn’t already clear, the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster will look noticeably different in 2026-27, as the franchise has made several adjustments during the first stage of the changes.
One of those changes included parting ways with their disgruntled 6-foot-9 superstar and four-time NBA champion.
“The Los Angeles Lakers have officially renounced the free agent rights to LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Dion Waiters, Luke Kennard, Marcus Smart, Maxi Kleber, Nick Smith Jr, Jared Dudley, Avery Bradley, Jaxson Hayes, Markieff Morris, and Wayne Ellington,” HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on X/Twitter Wednesday.
While it was evident that James would likely depart the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018 after being swept by the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, it was somewhat surprising to see him join the lowly Lakers on a four-year, $153.5 million contract.
The post-Kobe Bryant era hadn’t been kind to Los Angeles before James’ signing, as the franchise endured back-to-back losing situations and was far from the daunting Western Conference franchise that secured 16 championships from 1949-2010.
Although the Lakers missed the postseason during James’ first injury-riddled campaign with the franchise, he helped Los Angeles bounce back in 2019-20 and win their 17th-ever championship.
In the years preceding the Lakers’ bubble title, James further strengthened his GOAT case by morphing into the NBA’s All-time leading scorer, guiding the Lakers to five postseason appearances (including a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2023) and earning eight additional All-Star nods.
Add in the fact that James also etched his name into the history books in 2025 by becoming the first player to share the floor with his son (Bronny), and it’s easy to see why many believe the former Cavaliers star is officially the best to ever do it.
Unfortunately, James’ near-decade-long stint with the Lakes ended sourly, as the four-time MVP didn’t appreciate the way the franchise handled the beginning of free agency after the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign.
“After the season, sources close to James said the most important factor in him re-signing would be how the Lakers approached him,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported Monday.
“He might have been willing to take a pay cut from the $52.6 million he'd made the season before, sources said, if the Lakers explained how they planned to reallocate the money. They never did, and James never made himself available to meet. He had been a priority enough times in his career to know when he wasn't one.”
Essentially, James was open to returning to Los Angeles for another season, but the feeling wasn’t mutual, rubbing the franchise’s 41-year-old phenomenon the wrong way.
With the Lakers anxious to hand Luka Doncic the keys and field a younger, more compatible roster alongside the six-time All-Star, a split was inevitable. Still, all things considered, the James experiment in Los Angeles was a colossal success.
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