While Doncic was already being positioned as the team's future from the moment he was acquired in February 2025, that perch was solidified last month when LeBron James left to eventually sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. ESPN asked a source close to James if the sale had gone through sooner whether it could have had any influence on James wanting to stay in L.A. "Maybe," the source said. "But that's tough to answer. Communication could have been better [with Iger and Kushner, compared to with Walter]. Just a different relationship. But the basketball piece was the most important, so maybe not from that standpoint." ESPN
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: ESPN asked a source close to James if the sale had …