James's new role sparks heated discussions! Lakers expert: To start a new chapter, the previous one must come to a close.

On August 4th, Beijing time, with Doncic signing a three-year, $165 million contract with the Lakers, he has officially become the center of the Lakers universe. Although this seemed destined from the moment Pelinka traded for him, the current landscape raises a pressing question: What does this mean for LeBron James? Lakers expert Dylan Hernandez from the Los Angeles Times provides an analysis—

James's absence from Doncic's contract signing press conference may not need excessive interpretation, as Austin Reaves was also not present. Noted journalist Stein explained in a recent report that James congratulated Doncic on his renewal via video call immediately, while Reaves is abroad for brand promotion.

However, with only one year left on James's contract and Doncic set to stay for at least three more years, how will James handle the situation of no longer being the focal point of the team? This player is already accustomed to exerting immense influence over the teams he plays for, to the extent that even the NBA powerhouse Lakers offered a draft opportunity to his son, who is not particularly outstanding.

Althoughthe Lakers had envisioned Anthony Davis taking over as the face of the franchise from James, this imagined baton has never truly been passed.When Davis renewed his contract two years ago, the Lakers did not make a grand spectacle like they did for Doncic's renewal—specifically, they built a photo wall themed around Doncic for this press conference.

Nevertheless, the current situation still evokes some unease, largely because James has not clearly expressed his thoughts. When James exercised his player option for next season, his agent stated that since James is eager to contend for a championship while the Lakers are "building for the future," their team wishes to "assess what is best for him at this stage of LeBron's career."

At 40, James still has a say in his future, as his contract includes a no-trade clause.

When asked how James views the Lakers' summer and whether he thinks James will retire as a Lakers player, Pelinka responded, "All interactions with LeBron and his team (especially agent Rich Paul) have been positive and mutually supportive. Very professional, and Rich (Paul) is great. Our conversations have always been open and ongoing."

"As for LeBron's career, I think the first thing we need to do is respect his and his family's decision about how long he will play. This is the most important thing, and we want to honor his right to determine his own timeline. This is really important, but if he has the opportunity to retire as a Lakers player, that would be fantastic."

In other words, the situation remains unclear, and Pelinka cannot definitively say, "Yes, he will retire as a Lakers player."

Doncic has accepted the Lakers' invitation to become their next core player. This is significant progress for the Lakers. Butto smoothly start a new chapter, they must bring the previous one to a close—whether by having James accept a supporting role or allowing him to decide to pursue his talent elsewhere.