Report: 'Retirement remains a real possibility' for LeBron James

If James wants to extend his career for at least one more season, his options reportedly include remaining in the Purple and Gold. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors are also reportedly in play for his services.

"After months of speculation that the two parties were headed for a divorce, a strong March changed the Lakers’ landscape and, potentially, the future between the organization and player. Winning, sources said, increased the chances of James and the Lakers extending their partnership.

"Around the league, rumors also persist that one last run in Cleveland, or a superstar Steph Curry-James duo in Golden State, are plausible possibilities as well. Per team sources, the Warriors’ interest in James this summer remains serious. The Cavs, and the prospect of a goodbye tour where James’ journey began, are also still widely seen by rival executives as a legitimate possibility. But in both cases, the luxury tax poses obstacles that likely mean James would have to make major financial concessions to come their way."

At one point very recently, it looked as if perhaps the Lakers were ready to move on from James. But there have been conflicting reports about whether they would welcome him back past this season, and Woike and Amick wrote that the door could still be open for James playing a ninth season for them.

"The Lakers’ ability to level up in March, when faith was restored on both sides in regards to this complicated partnership, could have a significant impact on James’ future.

"According to team and league sources, the Lakers have not closed the door on James returning next season. While it’s been the organization’s public position that it hopes James retires as a Laker, the run in March was the clearest example of the basketball advantages of pairing him with Dončić and Reaves.

"... The fact that James agrees with that assessment is crucial, as league sources say he was intrigued and encouraged by what they accomplished during that stretch. And considering the priority he’s still placing on winning, that development — and the what-might-have-been feeling that came with the injuries that followed — appears to have reshaped his view of remaining with the Lakers.

"... The stretch also could’ve opened James’ eyes to the potential of significant on-court success again in Los Angeles, a league source said.

"Winning, the source added, is what makes James happiest in a basketball context, and March showed that the Lakers not only could be a winning team but one that won playing the right way with people celebrating one another’s successes."

Of course, the realities of the NBA's hard salary cap will likely be a factor in where James plays next season — if he doesn't retire this offseason — and no matter where he plays in October, he'll have to do so at a drastically reduced salary. The Cavaliers and Warriors could offer him, at most, either the taxpayer or non-taxpayer mid-level exception, and even the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, which will be worth roughly $15 million, could pale in comparison to what L.A. would offer him.

"According to two high-ranking team sources, the prospect of James returning is still in play from the organization’s point of view. But that scenario would require patience from James, as the Lakers have approximately $50 million in salary cap room and plan on prioritizing roster balance above all else as they continue to build around Dončić."

James will make a total of $52.6 million this season after deciding to opt into the option year of his contract last summer. Los Angeles reportedly didn't offer him any type of extension, which seemed to signal that perhaps the partnership between him and the franchise was coming to an end.

But perhaps this postseason won't be the end of the partnership after all.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Report: 'Retirement remains a real possibility' for LeBron James