Lakers Star LeBron James Is Facing Backlash After Marcus Smart's Comments originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Los Angeles Lakers continue to straddle the fence between building for a future with Luka Dončić and trying to win now with a core of Dončić and LeBron James. Also caught in the middle is 2024 first-round pick Dalton Knecht.

D espite LeBron James picking up his $52.6 million player option to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers for next season, there's never been more speculation surrounding his status with the team. That's in part because no new contract was negotiated this summer to keep him there past this upcoming season,

The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly planning for five-team trade deal, which intends to restructure the Lakers' roster and bring LeBron James back to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Though talks of LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason have seemingly cooled down, his future is still in question heading into the 2025-26 campaign.