LeBron James will become eligible next Thursday to sign a contract extension with the Lakers that could be worth up to a projected $97.1MM over two years, Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack article. If James doesn’t agree to an extension with Los Angeles, he would remain on track to reach free agency in 2023.
According to Stein, sources briefed on the matter say that James is happy in L.A. and suggest that his family has become “increasingly entrenched” in Southern California in recent years. Stein adds that the belief in league circles is that LeBron is unlikely to seriously consider leaving the Lakers unless he has the opportunity to play with his son Bronny James elsewhere beginning in 2024.
Once James becomes extension-eligible next week, he and the Lakers won’t be facing any sort of deadline in the near future — he’d remain extension-eligible all the way up until June 30, 2023, and could agree to a new one- or two-year contract at any time before then to avoid free agency. So if the two sides don’t strike a deal immediately, it shouldn’t necessarily be a cause for concern.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Within the same Substack story, Stein writes that seemingly no potential trade partners want to make a deal with the Lakers unless they can get both of L.A.’s tradable first-round picks (2027 and 2029). Based on reporting to date, Stein’s claim presumably applies to at least the Nets with Kyrie Irving and the Pacers with Buddy Hield and Myles Turner. According to Stein, the Lakers have thus far only shown a willingness to move one of those two first-rounders in any deal — and they’ll likely look to add at least some protections to any pick they move.
- Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report spoke to a handful of league insiders about what the Lakers should do with Russell Westbrook and received a wide range of opinions. Those sources were split on how aggressive the team should be in trying to make a preseason trade and how many picks they’d attach to Westbrook. As Pincus writes, some of his sources think L.A. should let Westbrook stay away from the team if he’s still a Laker this fall, while others believe he can still salvage some on-court value for his current club.
- In case you missed it, there are five Lakers players who can’t be traded until at least December 15. We shared that full list earlier today.
Can’t see the Lakers moving unprotected picks during the years they’re most likely rebuilding or nearing the end. I’d say they just have to stick with Westbrook for one more year and then decide on Irving, which at least then won’t cost them the picks. The issues with the Lakers have been Davis staying healthy, chemistry, drama, and lack of a strong bench. If the Lakers can be competitive for the year and compete, next year, though a little older, should be better without mortgaging the future.
Lakers will move the picks but they are holding as much as they can to just send 1st pick and not 2.
If they keep RW they are doomed, those 1st round picks are wildly overrated.
Agree Majesty and the best time to capitalize on those picks is today and by unprotecting them (They’ll never be worth more)
Agreed
Lakers are easier to sign free agent superstars than any other big cities such as NY, Chicago, Houston, Philly
Ex
After acquiring Doncic AND Morant, those Lakers picks have little value
I don’t want Lakers picks, I want Knicks or small town unprotected
Interesting that you constantly bring up Lakers willingness (or lack there of in your opinion)to pay luxary tax but don’t view 27 and 29 picks as valuable. Lakers just missed on playoff revenue this year and if they do it again this year the team will certainly not be looking to be over the cap in 27. Crypto.com gave them a lot of money but not enough to pay 3 guys over $35 and not see playoff money.
usually yes but consider than Brooklyn gave away their picks whichever turned into Brown and Tatum. Those 2 aren’t overrated. If LeBron gets hurt and leaves, and team doesn’t do well in free agency, ya those picks could be valuable. I understand not giving up both, but see if you can just 1 pick. Alternatively say Tucker, Reeves, Nunn do well, and you package 2 2nds and one of those guys for a late first; repackage with Westbrook + LAL 1st, maybe you have a taker.
I wouldn’t call those picks wildly overrated. By the time 2027 and 2029 rolls around the Lakers may be awful.
lol what future? THT? their roster is trash aside from Lebron/AD and AD wont make it till 32 with always being hurt
My hope on Lakers has reduced to zero.
Look at those free agents the Lakers were signing last summer and this summer.
Rumor had Kyrie Irving signed tax MLE with Lakers.
trash is hyperbolic. They have guys who can turn it around. THT didn’t play up to his contract and Nunn was hurt and Reeves needs time. If Nunn can score like Miami, yeah flip him. THT can improve defense, dribbling, and shooting, okay. Reeves is cheap and could be a shooting threat. These aren’t big pieces, but they could turn it around, and their value now is low, compared to what they could be in season. I hate the Lakers, but they have a few young guys who could bring something back if their play improves
Lakers see the writing on the wall and it looks like Labron James days of being the GM are over! If they trade those to picks they will suck for years! Next year tell Labron thanks but no thanks and trade Davis and start the rebuild! This team is to old and to thin!
8 th youngest team currently in the NBA , tho it’s not really a team as only 2 players are signed for 2024 currently (1 w a player opt THT)
The Lakers roster is a wasteland beyond lebron and AD regardless of anyone’s age, if you want lebron to stick around after this season you have to trade those picks and move westbrook, as a bulls fan I assure you that troy brown jr is not goin to help your squad, he’s gonna show super small flashes and then disappear for weeks at a time
I don’t disagree Parx but the Simps are going to need to find another narrative other than age this year
Agree Brown had many chances to show if he could sustain his potential and never did in Chicago, really just a marginal player.
Those picks mean very little to the Lakers fortunes. The Lakers don’t rebuild via the draft. They can’t -and shouldn’t- in a city like LA. There are too many other things to do, and fans aren’t going to turn out to watch 4 years of 30 wins.
I wonder if LBJ is willing to take a pay cut (for any team) like Tom Brady did.
Certainly would help his image and chances at another ring, taking max when you just cleared a billion in earnings (while certainly his prerogative) might not be the best avenue for him today
I thought he never took paycuts because of the media hate. At his age maybe he will take a paycut, 100% if Bronny makes the league he will go for the min.
If Lakers traded all future unprotected picks and are not able to sign any of top 15 stars in free agent market next several years, then Lakers are 10 years behind Warriors
Lakers could not draft Bronito also
Laker’s scouting has been good Kuzma, Ingram, Ball, Hart, Russell. THT was a second rounder. Ya Ball and Ingram were lottery picks but they nailed them unlike Philly. Warriors Curry was 8th Klay 15th. Green second round. Boston only missed playoffs once after the picks trade.
Westbrook has 3 major flaws
Turnover – worst in nba
Shooting – worst in nba
Defense – worst in nba
It will be fixed
He might need more shot attempts to fix the shooting?
Westbrook’s other flaws:
His attitude and Low basketball IQ
@ Sillivan
Westbrook will be 34 in the coming season. More shot attempts will not improve his shooting efficiency.
Russ and AD for Kyrie and KD
AD compared to Irving
AD 2012 First overall pick
Irving 2011 First overall pick
(Lakers give Irving 2-year extension)
Who has more value, Davis or Irving?
After all of these, then trade Westbrook for KD
Are you seriously comparing players by when they are picked? Does that mean Anthony Bennett has the same value as AD?
Brooklyn says no
LBJ mind as well sign the extension as soon as he’s eligible. Nowadays, players get to demand a trade and to where anytime they want to regardless if they have contract or not.
Mind as well have a guarantee, lol.
Only way they get away with just sending one pick out is if they take back some bad salary in a lopsided swap with Indy or San Antonio.
Something lime Russ & FRP to SAS
for 26M of Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson
This trade gives the Lakers a 3 & D shooting guard in Richardson plus a shooter in Doug McBuckets.
SAS should become the new OKC. 2023 Draft has some studs.
No need to hang onto a draft pick that is nine years away. The Lakers will always attract players and if LBJ decides not to resign, they’ll recoup those draft picks sooner by trading away AD to a desperate team like the Knicks, who will mortgage everything to be relevant again.
Honest question, if Bronny is considered a fringe prospect by the time his draft comes around, but it is widely known that wherever his son goes, LeBron will go, will a team draft Bronny migh higher than he should be drafted, just so they can land LeBron as well? IE, does Bronny’s draft stock increase, based on the assumption that his Dad could/would follow him to his new team?
Just an interesting thought.
Omg this is so frustrating year after year trading draft picks away. You can’t survive without first round picks. All the great teams in the past were anchored by picks. This has to stop.
Most of the great Laker teams of the past were not built that way. Lebron and AD came from other teams, won a title. Shaq came from another team, and Kobe was acquired via draft night trade.
If you want to go all the way back to 1996, you could *maybe* argue Derek Fisher. I wouldn’t label him an anchor, but he was an important part.
The Lakers haven’t built through the draft since the early 80s. I don’t understand this narrative people are trying to create.
At this point everything with the Lakers looks to be pointed at uniting LeBron and Bronny on the team in LA and making a few good runs at winning a championship.
The Lakers are really positioning for those seasons.
That’s why they won’t waive and stretch Westbrook, but they should consider trading the draft pick.
Still hard to believe they let Isaiah Mobley get away from them in this draft.