LeBron will be an interesting off season saga to watch play out. If he doesn't go back to the Lakers, LAL will not be as good. There is no doubt about that. I don't see how they could replace him. Reaves, Hachimura, Kleber, Kennard, and Hayes will all be FAs. There just are not impact players to sign. CJ McCollum? Zach Levine? Those guys are not going to do it.
But will LeBron leave money on the table (assuming that LAL does offer him big'ish money) to go play for NYK or CLE for the TPMLE? I think he probably should. It seems that LAL may be ready to move on.