LeBron James may not be LeBron James anymore, but he's still, well, LeBron freaking James. He is still one of the biggest NBA draws at 41 years old. That's why, no matter who has him, losing him still stings. Ironically, the Utah Jazz have everything to gain if the Los Angeles Lakers lose James this offseason, because if they do, that pick the Lakers owe the Jazz next year suddenly increases drastically in value.
Let's give full context and start with the Jazz. Thanks to the first Russell Westbrook-Jazz trade, the Lakers gave up their 2027 first-round pick (top-four protected) to the Jazz in the deal. Before the Luka Doncic trade, this asset looked among the most golden in the league. Now that the "LeBron era in LA is ending" smoke seems legitimate, suddenly that picks value would get resurrected.
ESPN's Shams Charania basically confirmed that LeBron and the Lakers may be due for split as soon as this summer, though he didn't specify when, and many speculated this when the Lakers chose not to extend him this past offseason.
"The reality is we're watching the end of a relationship between LeBron James and the Lakers..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 23, 2026
The end is near however you wanna slice it..
Whether he retires at the end of the season or if he signs somewhere else as a free agent" @ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Aj5KpSTdzI
Whether he retires or leaves in free agency this summer, James ditching LA is fantastic news for the Jazz.
The Jazz could get a valuable player without trying to
The Lakers wouldn't become the worst team in the NBA if LeBron left, but his departure would make it harder for them to remain atop the unforgiving Western Conference. With the Jazz expected to join the playoff hunt next season, that's one more competitor the Lakers would have to worry about, which would further help the chances of that pick turning into something good.
More competition in the West could put the Lakers in a position to worry about keeping their heads above water just to make the postseason. Admittedly, we're getting a little ahead of ourselves, but the Lakers are currently facing a lot of questions as currently constructed, and LeBron leaving only intensifies them.
Yes, LeBron's departure would likely also mean the Lakers pay up to keep Austin Reaves - man, it would be amazing if LeBron leaves, to which Utah then manages to pry Reaves (rhyme very much intended) - and while it would get in the way of the Jazz's offseason plans, it's not the end of the world (as long as Utah has some backup plans).
It's funny how, throughout LeBron James' NBA career, the Jazz are arguably the team he has personally affected the least over the last two-plus decades. They've never faced him in a playoff series, and even he's switched teams, he hasn't truly gotten in the way of their plans all that much.
But in the not-too-distant future, he may inadvertently give the Jazz a golden asset should he and the Lakers split. It's not over until it's over, but this whole drama has so much smoke that it's hard not think of the possibilities if and when LeBron's departure becomes a reality.