Craig`s restaurant in West Hollywood is known for its celebrity clientele and offers both a public front entrance, often surrounded by paparazzi, and a discreet private rear entrance for those seeking privacy.
Inside, the tinted windows and dim lighting provide an environment where significant discussions can take place over fine wine and upscale comfort food like pigs in a blanket or honey truffle chicken.
On May 3rd, just four days after the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Craig`s hosted a private meeting for four key individuals: the Lakers` new star point guard, Luka Doncic; his longtime manager, Lara Beth Seager; Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka; and coach JJ Redick.
Notably absent was LeBron James, who for over seven years had been the central figure in nearly all Lakers` strategic decisions.
Redick, Pelinka, and Seager used the main entrance, while Doncic opted for the private back entry.
However, all four departed via the front door, where they were quickly noticed by the waiting crowd of paparazzi and fans. Videos of their exit were promptly shared on TMZ and social media. Doncic even paused briefly to sign autographs.
Their deliberate choice of exit clearly communicated the meeting`s purpose: Doncic is now the face of the Lakers franchise, and the organization wanted to make this known to both him and the public.
According to sources, over a bottle of Opus One wine, Pelinka and Redick outlined their strategy for building the team around Doncic`s unique skills. They also navigated the complexities of the NBA`s new collective bargaining agreement, detailing their plans for managing salary cap space (particularly the second apron) to potentially acquire another star player close to Doncic`s age, and discussing the remaining draft assets.
Pelinka had prepared thoroughly, bringing a thick binder to what was essentially a working dinner. This binder, filled with offseason blueprints, long-term strategies, and ambitious goals, represented the kind of planning previously presented to James at similar meetings, covering targets like Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook (acquired) and others who were not.
Pelinka has been in frequent contact with Doncic and Seager since the astonishing trade that brought the young star from the Dallas Mavericks to the Lakers 3.5 months prior.
He met Doncic immediately upon his arrival in Los Angeles via private jet in February and consulted with him later that week regarding a potential trade for center Mark Williams, a player Doncic had expressed interest in playing alongside, although that trade was ultimately rescinded.
Building a deep relationship was challenging amidst the demands of the ongoing season. The Lakers, and the entire league, are acutely aware that Doncic faces a monumental decision starting August 2nd, when he becomes eligible to sign a contract extension with the team.
Despite roster additions like signing Deandre Ayton as the starting center or improving wing depth with Jake LaRavia, securing a long-term commitment from Doncic remains by far the most critical piece of the Lakers` offseason agenda.
His current contract allows him to opt into free agency next summer, a scenario any franchise prefers to avoid. The Lakers are eager for Doncic to accept a new deal to prevent this uncertainty.
Doncic is eligible to sign a four-year extension worth $223 million, which the Lakers will undoubtedly offer. However, he might prefer a shorter three-year, $160 million deal, which could provide more flexibility for future contracts. The Lakers would be content with either option but may need patience. Doncic is participating in the high-stakes EuroBasket tournament with the Slovenian national team throughout the summer until mid-September, and his NBA contract matters might wait until after the tournament concludes.
These specific contract figures were not the focus of the dinner at Craig`s in May. Instead, the meeting included planning visits to Doncic in Europe later in the summer, discussing potential teammates, and examining the team`s playing style and organizational culture.
Behind the restaurant`s discreet windows, the Lakers` leadership conveyed a clear message to the player they hope will define their future: This is the potential life in Los Angeles if he chooses to stay and become the next face of the franchise.
This message appears to have been well-received. Lara Beth Seager, Doncic`s manager, told ESPN, “The Lakers leadership team has been incredibly welcoming and supportive of Luka since we arrived in L.A. We`ve spent a lot of time talking and getting to know each other over the last few months, and we`ve formed a strong working relationship. Championships are won when you work together. We all share that same goal.”
By exiting through the front door, the franchise made this transition unofficially public: they are ready to inaugurate the Luka Doncic era in Los Angeles, acknowledging that this implies the gradual conclusion of the LeBron James era.
Less than two months after the meeting with Doncic, a significant, though different, statement emerged from the individual not present that night: the team`s former primary star.
This statement came via Rich Paul, James` long-standing agent and close associate, ahead of James` June 30th decision to exercise his final-year player option worth $52.6 million.
Paul told ESPN`s Shams Charania, “We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what`s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career… He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what`s best for him.”
Despite contractually binding him to the Lakers for the 2025-26 season, the statement immediately caused a stir across the NBA, widely interpreted as a potential farewell letter. It hinted at a larger strategic shift.
The massive trade that brought Doncic to Los Angeles created new realities, one of which was James eventually entering the final year of his contract, a first in his 23-year career. This was the strongest signal yet that his time with the Lakers was nearing its end.
Executives throughout the league scrambled to decipher its meaning.
One executive from the Eastern Conference was convinced James wanted to leave Los Angeles.
Several teams, including the Golden State Warriors (who attempted to trade for James in 2023-24), reportedly reconsidered making trade offers, according to sources.
Another Western Conference executive speculated it was an elaborate form of displeasure because the Lakers had not offered James a new contract extension.
A different Western Conference executive felt it was an attempt to pressure the Lakers` front office to focus entirely on winning this upcoming season, diverting from their strategy to maintain salary cap flexibility for 2026 and 2027, after James` large salary would come off the books.
Regardless of the underlying reason, the statement had an immediate impact. According to league sources, free agent center Brook Lopez, who had seriously considered joining the Lakers and potentially starting, grew concerned about the uncertainty surrounding James` future and ultimately signed with the rival LA Clippers as a backup.
Before releasing the statement, Paul informed Doncic and the Lakers organization.
Sources say Paul called Seager, with whom he has a working relationship, intending to extend an olive branch. He wanted to assure her that James genuinely appreciated Doncic`s admiration for him and understood that Doncic was aware of the league`s business aspects. Paul clarified that the statement wasn`t a reflection of James` feelings about their shared time playing together and suggested he would communicate any future moves James might make.
James, according to sources, understood the Lakers capitalizing on the opportunity to transition to the younger superstar. However, from James` perspective, some nuance was lost during this shift.
Unlike James, who chose to come to Los Angeles in 2018 when the franchise was enduring its worst stretch since moving from Minneapolis (five consecutive playoff misses), Doncic hadn`t actively sought a move to the Lakers. Just two years after James arrived, he helped deliver the franchise`s 17th championship.
Paul also formally notified the Lakers that James intended to pick up his final contract year, as the team had not engaged in any significant discussions about offering him a one or two-year extension, something they had done twice before during his tenure, sources said. It was during this communication that Paul informed the organization about the impending statement.
The Lakers had already made their own statement by not offering James a contract beyond the upcoming season. It became unequivocally clear that the 21-time All-Star`s time as the Lakers` focal point now had a planned conclusion, even if his record-breaking NBA career did not.
Whether the 2025-26 season marks James` final year in the NBA is his decision. But if he desired the kind of celebrated Hollywood departure traditionally given to Lakers legends, the timeline was now set.
Spring 2026. The transition: Luka Doncic stepping in, LeBron James potentially stepping out.
Naturally, if James ultimately decided to retire, the Lakers would likely honor him with a celebration akin to Kobe Bryant`s retirement tour in 2016.
However, for the first time in his 23-year NBA career, a team had not pleaded or risked their future assets to retain James beyond his current contractual obligation.
Sources indicate the Lakers` stance wasn`t entirely unexpected by James, but it was nonetheless difficult to accept.
Since the February 1st trade for Doncic, the Lakers have consistently signaled this transition away from James towards Doncic through a series of subtle actions:
They did not give him significant advance notice that they were trading Anthony Davis for Doncic. Sources say James forgave this, respecting Doncic and understanding the franchise`s reasons for the trade and for keeping it confidential as long as possible.
Within days of acquiring Doncic, Pelinka attempted to pair him with Mark Williams, a young, athletic center. For years, Davis and James had requested the franchise acquire a true center, without success.
When the Buss family agreed to sell a majority stake in the franchise to Mark Walter on June 18th, Doncic was given prior notification and conspicuously posted congratulations on social media afterward. Sources noted that James was informed of the sale through his representatives *after* this article was published, but he made no public acknowledgement.
Finally, the most significant indicator: By not offering James an extension, the Lakers demonstrated their comfort having him on the roster with an expiring contract, a highly unusual position for a superstar of his standing.
James has responded to this treatment by dropping cryptic clues about his perspective, a tactic he has used multiple times in his career when dissatisfied with his current team.
After the Lakers` elimination, James was asked if playing against more physical opponents after the Doncic trade affected him. He replied, “No comment. I never say that because my guy AD said what he needed and he was gone the following week.” This was a clear reference to an interview where Anthony Davis requested a center, shortly before Davis was part of the trade package for Doncic.
After exercising his player option and issuing the statement that fueled NBA speculation, James further fanned the flames with social media posts referencing his time with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.
On July 4th, he reposted a photo of Lakers broadcaster Allie Clifton wearing a Cavaliers jersey with the caption, “Proper attire.” Clifton is from Cleveland and previously worked for the Cavs during James` second tenure there (2014-2018).
Two days earlier, he had posted a video of himself golfing in Cleveland while wearing a hat that read, “Welcome Home.”
The official explanation is that James wore the hat to support his friend Paul Rivera, co-creator of his show `The Shop,` whose new media company is called Homecoming.
Unofficially, the interpretation differs.
As one source familiar with James put it, “Nothing LeBron does is a coincidence.”
While a definitive plan for the final stage of his career has not been publicly revealed, James` history of meticulously structuring contracts and creating future options to move teams years in advance suggests he rarely acts without a larger strategy.
This week marked anniversaries of his past major career moves: Tuesday was the 15th anniversary of `The Decision` to leave the Cavaliers for the Miami Heat, and Wednesday was 11 years since his return to Cleveland, announced via a Sports Illustrated cover story.
Between 2014 and 2018, James signed four contracts with distinct structures, each aimed at maximizing his earnings, leverage, and future flexibility.
However, much like Doncic, whose intention to spend his entire career in Dallas was abruptly and shockingly altered by the February trade, James` own plans have also been disrupted.
For the past five years, James has been constructing his long-term residence on a Beverly Hills hilltop, a process reportedly taking three years just for permits. His children attend school in Los Angeles, and his businesses are based there. Apart from his annual trips home and vacations, LA is where he spends most of his time.
Then came the trade for Doncic, the sale to Mark Walter, and a series of events that clearly signaled the Lakers are now prioritizing the future of someone else.
James has never been in this particular situation before. Arguably more than any player in NBA history, he has maintained control over his destiny through a combination of foresight and unprecedented influence.
Now, near the conclusion of his career, there`s been a plot twist that even he didn`t anticipate.
