Ex-NBA Vet, UNC Star Says Lakers '100%' Must Cut Ties With LeBron James, Deal Austin Reaves
A popular theme is developing among former NBA players with regards to the Los Angeles Lakers, one that even now feels almost sacrilegious to utter aloud: that the time has come for the franchise to move on from superstar LeBron James.
The latest ex-player to put his name on that notion is Rashad McCants, a four-year veteran of the league (Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings) and a standout in college at North Carolina where he won a national championship in the 2004-05 season -- one year after James entered the NBA.
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'100% get rid of LeBron, bring in some young assets,' McCants told Basketball Insiders in an exclusive interview published Thursday, May 8. "He still has enough energy to go out there and warrant some good players for him."
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Austin Reaves (15).Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
McCants took it even further, suggesting that the Lakers also move on from their general manager and potentially deal guard Austin Reaves -- all with the intention of rebuilding the franchise from the ground up around Luka Doncic.
"You get rid of GM Rob Pelinka, you might have to move Austin Reaves," McCants continued. "You really might have to really start over completely, because Luka is uncertain whether he's even going to re-sign."
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Doncic is extension-eligible in early August, though he doesn't necessarily need to re-up right away, or even during this offseason at all if he chooses.
Given James' age -- he will turn 41 in December -- and the fact that he will break a league record by playing in his 23rd NBA season should he return to L.A. for the 2025-26 campaign, combined with the amount of money he is owed ($56.2 million next year), there is some theoretical logic to the notion of the Lakers moving on.
But it also feels like that notion lacks critical context.
Although the awards have yet to be released, James is highly likely to earn a spot on one of the league's three All-NBA teams. Should he earn that honor, he will do so on the strength of 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds in 34.9 minutes per game across 70 regular season starts.
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Furthermore, James has a player option on the final year of his contract (2025-26) as well as a no-trade clause. That means he holds all the cards. James can choose to play next season and force the Lakers to keep him on the roster, paying him every cent he's owed -- and there is literally nothing Los Angeles can do to change that.
Former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce, a fierce rival of James' in the Eastern Conference during the late 2000s and early 2010s, made a similar suggestion earlier this month that the Lakers move on from James.
Related: Lakers Predicted to Go After Luka Doncic's Former Teammate
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