The Los Angeles Lakers are heading closer to the end of their current era with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, with James inching closer to retirement or leaving the team on his own accord.

Lakers insider Dave McMenamin appeared on ESPN Radio and revealed that the Lakers will need to see what Davis can do next season before offering him a contract extension, making a summer extension unlikely.

“You hope Anthony Davis stays healthy and you get the best out of him next year. But I don’t think they’re going to be in a position to be interested in a long-term extension for him this summer.”

Both LeBron and AD can be free agents in 2024, which may just lead to the next step for the players and team involved. If LeBron leaves to retire or play with Bronny, the Lakers may not see the value in bringing AD back and opt for an organic rebuild. They’re keeping their options open.

Anthony Davis Remaining A Laker Even If LeBron James Leaves

The rumors around Kyrie Irving pushing the Mavericks to trade for LeBron won’t be the reason that LBJ leaves the Lakers, but playing with his son or simply retiring are both options for him at the end of the 2023-24 season. If James is leaving the Lakers, does Anthony Davis still have value?

The Lakers could try and use the cap that opens up to rebuild around Davis, but the Lakers will likely be paying Austin Reaves and others a lot at that point too. Maybe letting Davis leave and organically rebuilding would be the best case for the Lakers. They owe only one more pick from the 2019 trade with the Pelicans that brought AD to LA, so we may be coming to the end of a topsy-turvy five-year era of Lakers’ basketball.