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With LeBron James turning 41 years old with an uncertain future with the Los Angeles Lakers, they team could eye a replacement for the star.
Despite all of the major storylines surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers, perhaps the uncertain future of the now 41-year-old LeBron James remains most prevalent.
With James in his 23rd season as the oldest player in the league, with his contract with the Lakers set to run out at the end of the 2025-26 NBA season, it’s unknown if he will continue with the franchise, move to a different team, or end his historic career.
While Los Angeles waits for an answer, they could be in the market for a replacement for their ‘do-it-all‘ star, and that could come in the 2026 NBA Draft. In a recent mock draft published by Bleacher Report, the Lakers are expected to select Neoklis Avdalas from Virginia Tech with the 25th overall pick.
The 6’9” wing was compared to former NBA player Hedo Turkoglu, with strong playmaking and shotmaking ability in his freshman collegiate season. This year for the Hokies, the Greek 19-year-old in Avdalas is averaging 14.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and five assists on 44.4/37.1/68.1 shooting splits in 12 games.
Lakers Expected To Land Top Wing In NBA Draft
Avdalas is currently ranked as the second-best small forward on draft rankings according to NBADraftroom.com, only behind potential top-three pick A.J. Dybantsa of BYU. The oversized wing has a keen offensive ability, whether it be creating his own shots or finding open ones for his teammates, and could come in to eventually play a similar role to that of James for the Lakers.
“He’s looked confident from outside with his three-point attempts and range all season, while the ability to separate into/convert two-point pull-up and fallaways creates more scoring versatility,” Jonathan Wasserman wrote for Bleacher Report.
There are still some questions about his athleticism at the NBA level, but as seen through the first stretch of his college season, as well as his play on Peristeri BC in Greece, the potential for success is real.
“Between the takeover performances and the 4.8 assists per game, which reflect perceived translatable playmaking based on his 6’9” size, ball-handling and passing skills, scouts can somewhat look past questions about his athleticism and whether the space creation will carry over,” Wasserman added.
Additionally, the upsides for Avdalas overall could overshadow the possible downsides for him as a prospect. As of now, the biggest concerns are his finishing through contact, on-ball defense, and consistency, according to NBA Draft analyst Matt Babcock, but he has the tools to play like an oversized guard, a player style that has seen immense success in the NBA today in the form of players like Luka Doncic, Cade Cunningham, and Paolo Banchero.
“Avdalas is a polished, high-IQ point forward with a polished scoring package and excellent vision for his size,” Babcock wrote. “His ability to stretch the floor, operate in pick-and-roll, and create for others gives him real intrigue.”
LeBron James Uncertain Lakers Future, Potential Retirement
The mock draft that sees the Lakers adding a potential playmaking wing comes at the same time that serious questions about James’ future in the league have been reignited.
In a recent article by ESPN, team insider Dave McMenamin wrote that the possibility of James retiring after this season is certainly still on the table. He highlighted multiple reasons, some more obvious than others, that could hint that the league’s all-time leading scorer could finally end his career after this year.
“Just look at the clues. James is in the final year of his contract. His longtime friend and agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, told ESPN over the summer that James didn’t ask for an extension with the Lakers,” McMenamin wrote. “We could also be looking ahead at the last 50 or so regular-season games that James has left in him.”
Additionally, James’ increased interest in golf, his recent tendency to ‘smell the roses‘ and praise cities and arenas across the NBA map, and comments about wanting to spend more time with his family were all cited as real reasons why this might be his last chapter in the league.
James is now officially 41 years old, and while he was already the oldest player in the NBA in his record-breaking 23rd season, the signs of aging are finally starting to show. Not to say that he still isn’t an impactful player, but on a team next to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, it’s pretty clear that he isn’t the Lakers’ number one option on offense anymore.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
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