Though there's only a few years left of it, we're still at the point where we're banking on LeBron James playing the following season. That would've been the case regardless of any moves the Los Angeles Lakers did, but the addition of Luka Dončić at the trade deadline certainly boosted the probability we would get a full season of the superstar duo. Yet, as things currently stand, it isn't set in stone.
LeBron James goes to his signature playbook to put pressure on the Lakers front office
Even though the Lakers caught their stride in the weeks before the seismic trade, having a 32-19 record off a 6-2 stretch in the eight games before the move, it was clear to most that they didn't have a roster that could compete with the top teams in the Western Conference. The acquisition of Dončić was a lateral move for the present, as they went 19-13 with him and improved their point differential by just one point (from plus-1.0 before he debuted to plus-2.1 afterwards) after moving off of Anthony Davis, but it extended their championship contention window for the future. But, if that window will feature James next season, they'll have to work for it this summer.
This is something LeBron has figured out in the later stages of his career: sign two-to-four year contracts with a player option at the end (in this case, he has a $52 million option at the end of his two-year deal), and wait out before accepting it, or even declining it, in order to put pressure on his team to make win-now moves. He's done this with the Lakers before, and he even did it with the Cleveland Cavaliers after winning the 2016 championship. With a potential LeBron free agency looming, the franchise has no choice but to maximize the present in order to keep him.
It's certainly understandable from LeBron's perspective. Especially with a 26-year-old phenom to build around after James retires, the Lakers are less inclined to sacrifice that future for next season unless LeBron exercises his leverage. Even if it might seem unlikely that he leaves the Lakers now and in such short notice, considering all the salary cap magic other teams will have to make to fit him into their cap, and even more machinations to build a contender around him for potentially two seasons, the prospect of losing a player of his caliber shouldn't be lost on Rob Pelinka and the front office.
In the month between now and June 29, the date where LeBron has to make a decision on his option, the pressure is on.