News broke on Sunday that LeBron James is opting into the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers (H/T Shams Charania of ESPN) at $52.6 million. While that was the expected outcome, several NBA executives and agents found it odd that he didn't appear to have his usual negotiating leverage.

The Lakers acquired Luka Dončić at the trade deadline. Dončić is 26. If the Lakers manage their roster around him properly, they could contend with him for the next 8-10 years. James might only have 8-10 months.

James’s agent, Rich Paul, released a statement along with the announcement from ESPN’s Shams Charania that made it clear his client “wants to compete for a championship” and that he understands that the Lakers are “preparing for the future.”