After losing Game 3 at home to the Denver Nuggets, the Los Angeles Lakers are on the brink of elimination.
The Lakers will host the Nuggets for Game 4, but given how the series has played out this could very well be the final game of the postseason for the purple and gold.
Despite strong performances from LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Denver has been able to respond and take over the game in the second half.
James in particular seems out of answers on the floor as no matter what he does, the Nuggets find a way to punch back and keep the Lakers from ever getting any momentum.
Another first-round sweep at the hands of Denver could force James to reconsider his future in Los Angeles as he has a player option most expect him to opt-out of this summer.
However, James appears set to remain a Laker and retire with the franchise, via Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
“Everything I’ve heard has been that LeBron wants to remain a Laker and that the Lakers want him to remain a Laker,” Buha reported via The Volume
James has not publicly committed to staying in Los Angeles and things could change depending on how the franchise responds this summer, but for now the safe bet seems to be on him re-signing another short-term deal.
James has nothing left to prove in the NBA given his resume, though it can be argued that winning another title would be easier elsewhere.
L.A. is fortunate to have James still donning their jersey and the most likely outcome is both sides figure out a new deal for him.