Even if LeBron James decides against signing a contract extension this offseason, the Lakers and team owner Jeanie Buss wouldn’t view that as a reason to consider trading him, sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic.
James, whose contract expires after the 2022/23 season, has the ability to tack on two more years (and $97MM) to his current deal when he becomes extension-eligible later this year, but Amick previously reported that the superstar forward may be leaning toward passing on that extension and once again taking a year-to-year approach.
If that’s what James decides, the Lakers would fine with it, as long as their relationship with the 37-year-old remains in a good place, says Amick. Should LeBron become discontented, the team’s approach could change, but if his “level of trust and happiness” with the organization remains high, a trade is off the table.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Frank Vogel‘s inability to get the most out of Russell Westbrook this season was a factor in the Lakers’ decision to fire the head coach, according to Amick, who speculates that the club may be open to hanging onto Westbrook and giving another coach a shot to make the experiment work — especially if the front office can’t find any appealing Westbrook deals on the trade market.
- Although Phil Jackson is advising the Lakers on their head coaching search and is believed to be a fan of Westbrook’s, he has zero interest in coaching L.A. (or any other team) himself, sources tell Amick.
- Speaking of Jackson, there are “powerful people close to the Lakers” who don’t love the fact that the Hall-of-Fame coach has input in major decisions despite not having a formal role with the organization, says Amick.
- Appearing on the “Certified Buckets” podcast, Lakers assistant Phil Handy said he believes he’d be capable of coaching an NBA team, as Kristian Winfield of The New York Daily News relays. “I am definitely at that point now to where I know I’m ready to be a head coach,” Handy said. “I’m ready to take on my own team and direct the ship in that fashion.” The Lakers, of course, are in the market for a new head coach, but there has been no indication so far that Handy is receiving serious consideration for the job.
If I I were LeBron, I’d probably do 1+1 again right? Make sure they draft Bronny.
At this point all his decisions will be in line with Bronny’s future in the NBA, so yeah, i bet he will make 1 year deals and have the option to sign elsewhere when/if Bronny joins the league.
Why does everyone assume he’s gonna be good enough be a one and done guy? He should come out even if he’s not ready and flame out?
If he isn’t good enough a team can pick up LBJ by picking Bronny with a non lottery pick, even if he will be super old at that point he will have massive impact marketing wise for a dead franchise.
Yes.
The best option is to fix Westbrook
Good luck with that
It is the lakers have no assets.
Only other option is if Bradley Beal demands a trade to lakers, wizards will accommodate a sign and trade if he asks and take back Westbrook who actually thrived in DC. Obviously other players and picks will be going too.
Beal has been a good soldier and can opt out or opt in. Beal gets to choose his next team.
Westbrook needs to get inside for his offensive game to flourish. AD is a way below average three point shooter and LBJ is average 3 Pt shooter so clearing out for RW does not really play to their strengths. We know RW’s woes from the 3 pt line. All three players take around 50% of their shots from inside 10 ft so having them all on the floor at the same time will not work. Two at a time probably could work. Every player’s pride is linked to playing the closing minutes when it is all on the line but playing all three together at the end of game will result in more L’s than W’s. No coach can solve that unless one of the Big 3 stows their ego away (cough, cough…Westbrook).
Westbrook misses inside the paint and makes too many mistakes insides, have negated his value. Plus he doesn’t cut more. He’s worth maybe 8-15 mil for the right team. But he hasn’t improved any portion of his game. Mind you open 3s and FTs are terrible in comparison to other players at his position. He’s a fastbreak guy that’s it.
“open to hanging onto Westbrook”? LOL as if they have any other options…they can ‘hang on’ to him either on the roster or off the roster.
The only way the Lakers can be rid of Westbrook is to pick up worse contracts that a team is willing to unload. Denver could trade Porter and Murray for Westbrook. If Murray can regain his form, that alone would be an improvement. Porter would be a lottery ticket. Denver can be free of two terrible contracts and would only have to pay Russell for one season. The Nuggets are going nowhere and Jokic is entering the final year of his deal. I doubt he’ll want to stick around.
Murray and Porter for RW is one of the worst RW trade scenarios i have heard hahaha LoL
Probably THE WORST by a good bit. Atleast, the vast majority of the RW trades are somewhat reasonable. There is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY Denver is getting rid of MPJ one year after signing him to that deal, especially not for a washed up, no defense, and can’t shoot Westbrook…lmao
The only way they get rid of Porter Jr. is if his back causes them some concerns, and if that’s the case he’s probably still stuck there, because teams will see the same concerns in his medicals that would nix any potential deal…
Maybe they can trade Porter for Ben Simmons