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Should LeBron return to the Lakers this season?

The Los Angeles Lakers are yet again experiencing a tumultuous season as last night's loss to the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers exhibited.

During the holiday season, a time of joy and giving, LeBron James dumped a proverbial lump of coal in the stockings of all Lakers nation for presumably much longer than anyone expected.

That fateful Christmas Day game against the Golden State Warriors has dredged up bad memories of losing seasons, after what was supposed to be a year of the King -- as James lifted the baby Lakers and carried them into the postseason for the first time in six years.

Unfortunately, James' body had other plans and a strained groin has kept him sidelined since, and possibly for much longer.

The question now is: Should James even return this year at all?

With the way things are going, it's hard to truly answer this.

With James out, the Lakers have a 3-7 record and did I mention they just lost to the Cavs -- at home?

Why would he want to return to this? What evidence have these young Lakers given that proves they are worth him potentially aggravating an area of the body that is finicky at best? There has been an absence of leadership combined with shoddy rotations that makes the best game of musical chairs look dull.

The front office of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka have been keeping things so close to the vest and appear terrified of Jeanie Buss should they make any coaching staff changes this season. Mind you, with trade rumors swirling of landing Anthony Davis (pre-James injury), the two possibly thought they had an ace up their sleeve, and were ill-prepared for a 33-year-old (now 34) James to be out with a nagging injury.

So, once again, the Lakers are back to square one. Lack of leadership, lack of a plan and no James.

And James may be best suited to stay away from the current mess the Lakers are in.