2 years of $105 million! 3 for 3 trades to compete for the 5th championship, James returns to the Cavaliers to write a happy ending?

$52.63 million, which is James' annual salary for the 2025-26 season. He has the option of player this summer and can choose to jump out to become a free agent. Unlike in the past, there is no relevant report on James' departure this time.

This means that he stays in the Lakers and chooses to renew their contracts or officially retires after playing next season. With no news of "retirement tour" released and this season, 41-year-old James wants to say goodbye, but he doesn't want the fans to let him go!

played 70 games in the regular season, with 24.4 points + 7.8 rebounds + 8.2 assists and 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 51.3%! In the playoffs, there were 5 games, averaging 25.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, with a shooting percentage of 48.9%!

For this reason, retirement is a follow-up event, and in the latest analysis of "Open-Air Stand", it was mentioned that James would tend to re-sign with the Lakers. The contract is roughly worth US$105 million in two years, and he also has player options in the 2026-27 season!

stayed, winning the championship is still the only pursuit, but does the Lakers have room for operation? Dan Walker of the Los Angeles Times said bluntly: "If the Lakers want to sign any center player, Reeves, Kneckett and the 2031 first-round draft pick are indispensable assets."

In short, if you want to win a good inside player, the cost is not low and the remaining transaction value of the Lakers can only be like this. And there are limited conditions for trading or competing for free agents in next season's events!

You can't trade Brownie who has performed well in the NCAA and has just shown his potential for a suitable center, right? Furthermore, the center is suitable for Doncic but may not meet James's playing style needs.

If James becomes the object of the transaction, is there a certain possibility? I remember when the Cleveland Cavaliers won the league first in the regular season, fans mentioned James when discussing who this team still lacks for the championship.

As a result, Nick Wright, a well-known NBA analyst, talked about how to get James back to Cleveland during the offseason? After all, the Cavaliers do lack an organizational front line.

When the Cavaliers had the first record in some areas east of the game into the playoffs, they faced the Pacers with outstanding forward line and "stadium brain" Halliburton in the second round, but the ended up being eliminated 1-4, so the Cavaliers needed to change.

The Lakers are not the same? In this regard, let’s first look at the following 3-for-3 trading plan given by the media, and will it allow James to compete for the fifth championship again before the end of his career?

The Cavaliers sent Jarrett Allen, DeAndre Hunter and the 2031 first-round draft pick to the Lakers in exchange for LeBron James, Vanderbilt and Brownie!

For the Lakers, the center problem and wing defense issues were solved together. Allen was obviously a player who was suitable for Doncic, and Hunter was the same. The Lakers have internal and external combinations such as Doncic + Reeves + Allen.

Hunter, who can contribute 17 points per game this season, not only has outstanding off-ball ability, but also has the wing defense that the Lakers lack, which makes the team generally young and can directly build a championship lineup around Doncic. The two first-round draft picks and Kneckett are both assets for the Lakers' future rise. After all, if James is there, his salary will make it difficult for the Lakers to continue to sign ups, and winning the championship will be a long way from him, Doncic and the Lakers.

For this reason, although the Lakers have sent away James, who can bring the greatest benefits in business, don't forget that the team's pursuit is to win the championship in the future, and Doncic also has great business influence.

Cavaliers are simple, and their goal is the same as James, which is to strive for the championship! With Mitchell, Garland and Mobley, it is undoubtedly the most appropriate to join a forward player with top organizational skills.

Although James will be 41 years old next year, what's the point? If he wants to come back, Cleveland can wait until he is 50! We also mentioned James' performance in the regular season and playoffs this season, which seemed to be "Liang Po is old and can still live in the family."

playoff experience and stable contributions within the right time allow James and the Cavaliers to try to chase the championship. And if he can return to Cleveland and win the championship again, and then choose to retire, it will undoubtedly be the most satisfactory ending.