To be clear, Lebron isn’t waiting for a max guy NEXT year, he would stay with the Cavs this year and wait until next year. He is in win mode every year. I think it is over about Lebron is waiting for PG or Kawhi to LA then if one of those two things happens, I think he is gone. I doubt he goes before one of the two, bc going by history he usually waits until everytime folds out. July 8-11 is his timeline
First of all, making a definitive statement like "Lebron isn't waiting" is pretty silly.
You have no more idea than anyone else what he will or will not do.
2nd, I'd say if Lebron is the first domino to fall, it likely means he is confident that someone else is coming and he knows who it is.
3rd, regardless if Lebron returns to Cleveland or goes to the Lakers by himself, if the Celtics and Sixers are healthy, his run of finals appearances probably ends this year. If you're going to miss the finals, you may as well have the nice weather. lol
Lebron knows that if the Lakers don't get 2 max guys this off-season, they intend to hang on to whatever cap space is left for next off-season. So, if the Spurs don't trade Kawhi to the Lakers and PG stays in OKC, there may be an agreement between Lebron and Kawhi for Lebron to come this year and Kawhi to come next off-season when he's an FA. It also gives him a year to recruit other FA's if Kawhi decides to stay with the Spurs. Next years FA group looks to be deeper.
Having said the above, Lebron may very well decide to just stay in Cleveland 1 more year. Or, if LA is where he and his family want to be, he may decide to go ahead and come to the Lakers knowing that at least 1 more max guy will be headed there soon enough and that the Lakers are willing to make the necessary trades to get more help as well.