LeBron James needs to offer the Lakers a commitment before they decide what to do with him and the roster in general this offseason, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. James is eligible for a two-year extension after the season but otherwise would become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2023. If James is intent on returning to Cleveland, their trade options would be limited, similar to what happened in Brooklyn when James Harden expressed his desire to play in Philadelphia.
We have more on the Lakers:
- Trading James is the Lakers’ only viable path to success in the coming years, according to Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times, who contends that LeBron’s trade value offers the greatest rewards for the lowest risk, since no team wants Russell Westbrook‘s contract and declining production while Anthony Davis presents major injury concerns for would-be suitors. James could be a worthwhile one-year rental for a top contender and the Lakers could acquire some badly needed young talent.
- James has wielded more power within the Lakers than Kobe Bryant ever did, sources inside the organization told Bill Oram of The Athletic. James and agent Rich Paul are putting the squeeze on GM Rob Pelinka and the front office with tensions at an all-time high. The Lakers’ front office doesn’t want to squabble with James, Oram adds, and Pelinka has insisted internally that there are no hard feelings between the two sides.
- The season has gone too far along and there’s too many deficiencies for the Lakers to establish a positive identity the rest of the way, scouts told Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
People acting like Rich Paul has so in what’s going on. Morey stood up to him, the rest of the league should too.
Lakers need to trade LBJ and AD to build up draft picks, scrap the season and think long term assets in the draft.
LBJ can sink any trade he doesn’t like. But, I’d certainly trade him if agrees and the return is good.
@Weasel so you would really like to embrace what would be a full own rebuild rather than hope for a healthy playoff season of AD and LBJ with some tinkering with the rest of the lineup?
What I’ve been saying. Much like the Cubs trading their core roster, Lakers need to trade Lebron and AD. That’s the only way to contend with it the next 5 years
Almost as if they had long term assets but got rid of all of them to get Davis and Russ
Sure, win a title with them, not just be decent.
I’m a LBJ guy – more so the man than the player because he’s done and continues to do a great deal off the court! (Education & Business)
But the Lakers should have tried trading him for Ben Simmons… if he agreed to it, that move would have been great for the Lakers & him.
LOL Morey only overpaid for a player he could have got for Free in a couple of months and it’s for the same player that ruined Houston what do you know it’s the same GM too hahaha
Morey didn’t over pay to get harden. He simply decided to acquire him now rather then wait to the off season. Those draft picks and curry is probably what it would have cost to move Harris to free up the cap space
You know they could just done a sign and trade where they gave up Simmons or Harris, right? Nets have no way of gaining payroll flexibility for a while.
Lol if u think Morey overpaid it’s clear u don’t know basketball
One could really argue if you think he didn’t overpay, you clearly don’t know basketball..
The truth, as usual, lies somewhere in the middle. It all is going to depend on how Harden teams up with Embiid, and how Simmons and Curry help Brooklyn come playoff time and next season..
Also, Philly is going to have to give Harden another big money multi-year deal, and that very well may not age very well at all!!
At least if Simmons doesn’t work out in Philly they can easily trade him ajd get a good return. The same cannot he said once Philly signs Harden to another deal…
Then again, if Philly wins even one title, most fans will say it was easily worth it…
Simmons had 0 value really. It just took another disgruntled star to get a deal done. Curry and the picks are collateral damage.
That’s laughable. The sixers turned Drummond(1yr vet min) Curry(who they got for a bad fit Richardson) and simmons(who quit on his teammates) into a all-star top 10-20 player in Harden. If u think Morey overpaid, well u are clueless.
Jeanie has to start acting like an owner, as opposed to a groupie. She’s not even a newbie in the role; she’s been with the organization her entire adult life. If she takes charge of this situation, the nonsense will end. Of course, it might mean everyone won’t like her.
Children who inherit wealth rarely inherit the skill or drove that created that wealth.
They won the championship a year and half ago lol
Yeah not sure she inherited the drove. Heck, I don’t even know what inheriting the drove even means.
Hire Jerry West. Fire the Rambis’. Let Rob be VP of PR. For Gods sake hire some analytical types.
Lakers
Great identity
Great value
Great players
Lakers used to be
Great organization
Great culture
Great fans
Still are
Lakers can trade for Zion
Davis to third team
Third team offers young players and picks
Zions an Xbox playing Cheeto eating softie, literally and figuratively. We’ll pass, we need an alpha elite scorer like Kobe, Lebron, and Shaq
Yeah, I mean, who wouldn’t pass for a once in a lifetime, top 10 HOF’er of all-time gamechanger!?! lol
If that’s what you’re hoping to get, good luck waiting another 10-15 years when someone births another Giannis or KD …
On the bright side, the rate the Lakers are going, after LeBron runs them into the ground, they’ll likely be picking first for a long time, so the Lakers will have as good of a chance as anyone of getting said next generational talent..
Pretty ridiculous people suggest the Lakers blow it up. Why would a primere franchise in a market where every team is winning titles purposefully go back to the celler? The odds of them winning another title with LeBron and AD are significantly higher than without over the next say 10 years. Westbrook on an expiring contract is movable. You just gotta pray they stay healthy. That’s a major ask but it’s better than blowing it up and saying “see you in 6 years”
This makes sense because LeBron has a history of hiding his intentions from teams he’s manipulated/commandeered. Its different if he was a partner, but has acted more like an orchestrater with team front offices. He has massively hurt teams following his migration. Unload him, AD, and Westbrook. NY has draft picks and its the #1 media market for LeBron. They should go after a young developing players like Kuminga, Miles Bridges, Simons, Barret, Edwards, Haliburton. Reform the team and build up assets
Rich Paul is not Scott Boras.
Boras does what’s best for his clients, but he expects them to comport themselves as professionals. Boras does not put the squeeze on FO’s and owners regarding any players other than the ones he represents that have signed contracts with the organization. He respects those that own and run the franchise to do as they see fit.
The worst thing the Cavs can do is bring Lebron back to Cleveland. As soon as the team hits a rocky spot he and Paul will be demanding certain players be traded / released and which others should be brought in. They’ll also go to work on the coaching staff. All the good feelings and team cohesion will dissipate.
LeBron never becomes a part of a team. Rather he orchestrates everything that franchise does. The Cavs have a great young team. Those young men will get better in the next few years playing and growing together. LeBron’s salary alone would force the Cavs to move players off their roster to stay within budget – and it won’t be 2 or 3 cheap bench
players, it’ll be major cogs on the team.
The man and his family are settled in LA. They need to stay there. If he plays out his option, the Clippers play in the same building.
Oh LeBron has just hurt each franchise… By winning a title in each of Miami, Cleveland, and LA.
Come on, man…don’t put a damper on the Lebron hater parade with facts and logic. Blind haters have so little in life to begin with…allow them to bask in their one small pleasure…
It is how he left them high and dry, after he soaked up and used all their resources to win said titles. Knowing he was going to be leaving after he orchestrated shortening their windows, so he could win then and in the now…
Knowing those franchises would be royally screwed for the next 5-10 years. He used his power to demand they used ALL their resources on building his team around him. And if they didn’t bend to his every whim he threatened to leave, only to leave anyways..
That’s why people don’t like LeBron. No one doubts his greatness on the court. It is his manipulation off the court to get his own way, and then leaving teams high and dry after they cater EVERYTHING to him that rubs people the wrong way..
Like it or not, those are also all facts as well…
All of those teams banked on Lebron bringing them a championship and he has delivered every time. How many franchises would sacrifice a few years of competing in order to get one championship? Teams go all-in to compete for a title only to fail and have rebuild regularly. Be realistic…the main reason haters hate Lebron is due to jealousy, plain and simple, regardless of how people like you try to justify it. Next I suppose you will try telling us that the fans are not mainly interested in their favorite team winning a championship.
That’s it, “like”. LJ never learned likability or supplication, so he makes the Samuels of the world, who would enjoy crushing athletes, shrivel.
That was two years ago. He’s now 37 with a history of injuries in recent years. He’s racking up good stats but so did Jordan in Washington. They’re going nowhere with this team.
Well, now that is the most idiotic thing I have heard in a very looong time, right?
I mean trading LBJ & AD, SMH!
Anyone that thinks that is a good idea, well clearly are idjets with no understanding of hoops like at all!
Cavs DO have options to trade for LJ. Pincus just does not like them, showing himself to be biased.
LJ with his salary and pull and early out is no easy gift. Nobody will offer what Lakers fans think he should draw, just like with Simmons, or any unique star really.
The article by Oram in the athletic was outrageous for the Lakers, like war was on. Meanwhile in Ukraine war is really starting. The language for that in the news should be so in your grill.
This is absolutely insane Lebron met with Westbrook said they could make it work now that it it didn’t he don’t wanna accept responsibility and expects GM to just fix it, but this is the Goat cmon man Lebron don’t wanna compete he hasn’t since he left for Miami Imo
Who knew of you put a bunch geriatric players on one team they would do bad.
Super surprised Vogel didnt get canned during the break and Pelinka too. They will both be gone at season end.
The Lakers will be contenders soon, maybe next season.