Lebron is no fool ........... he fully expected to compete this season.
Nag-sign yan sa LAKERS, knowing he'll be given the superstar teammates that he needs to succeed - very same approach as he did with the HEAT & his return to the CAVS. He has a brand and a business empire to protect. Winning is the only way.
Lebron, Klutch Sports, Magic & everyone else knows that the LAKERS have some nice young pieces (e.g. BI, Kuzma, Ball, etc) to trade for superstar ones .......... the AD signing with Klutch was part of the plan. Ika nga ni Charles Barkley when AD signed with Klutch, "The fix is in ........ AD is going to LA."
The WEST now, is loaded as it ever was and the LAKERS dealt with injuries and didn't get the superstar sidekick/s ............. madaming nagalit doon sa ginawa ni AD & Klutch Sports - indirectly, nabuking sila Lebron.
So, it's a strange season for Lebron.
Lebron achieved some milestone stats, proving to be one of the all-time greats ........... at the same time, he proclaimed himself to be the GOAT (which no one ever does), was generally indifferent in the defensive end and his team will likely miss the playoffs - Lebron was exposed in many ways, this year.
The WEST will still be ultra-loaded in the foreseeable future .......... Lebron's only way out is for superstars to sign with the LAKERS soon. He knows it, everyone knows it.