Lakers offering LeBron a $30 million annual salary? Team reporter: Westbrook trade casts shadow over his relationship with the team

On May 25, Beijing time, the Lakers are approaching a critical 2026 offseason, with multiple major roster adjustments on the horizon. As Doncic leads the charge to reshape the league landscape, the Lakers must retain their two key free agents—James and Reaves—if they want to stay competitive.

The trade that brought in Russell Westbrook best exemplifies James's former influence, as it was reportedly orchestrated by him.Buha of The Athletic stated on his personal podcast that this trade is one of the worst of the 2020s, and it has cast a shadow over the relationship between James and the Lakers' front office.

"After the Westbrook trade, the relationship between the two sides was never the same. Over the past few offseasons, there have been numerous reports analyzing the dynamic between James and the Lakers, and I have contributed to some of them. This relationship has been up and down, with their closeness changing each season and even mid-season."

To complete the trade, the Lakers sent away useful role players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma. After acquiring Westbrook, the team finished with a 33-49 record and missed the 2022 playoffs. Responsibility for the trade remains unclear—some say the front office followed James's wishes, while others believe the front office made the decision independently and then obtained James's consent.

Regardless of the process, James was indeed involved in this trade. Although he may not have foreseen the subsequent salary negotiation failures that led to Alex Caruso's departure, he cannot escape responsibility for the core move of bringing in Westbrook.

This move was a complete failure, bringing far more harm than benefit to James's tenure with the Lakers. In 2022, the Lakers with Westbrook missed the playoffs; in 2023, when they traded Westbrook before the deadline, the team was 25-27. After the trade, they went 18-9 and advanced all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

The prime years James lost and the assets the Lakers squandered cannot be recovered. When both sides decide whether to extend for the 2026-27 season, they should not dwell on this failed trade from the past.ESPN has reported that the Lakers are expected to offer James an annual salary of around $30 million.Major competing teams like the Warriors and Cavaliers can basically only offer a veteran minimum contract; even if they clear cap space through roster adjustments, they can at most provide a $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception.

Letting James go to a rival on a cheap deal would be a loss for the Lakers. With the team now building around Doncic in pursuit of a championship, retaining James for his 24th NBA season is the wise move. If they hold a grudge over the failed trade from five years ago and stall contract negotiations, it would not be a good decision for either side.