LeBron James hinted at retirement following the Lakers’ elimination from the postseason on Monday night. General manager Rob Pelinka said on Tuesday that James has earned the right to do whatever he wants with the career, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
“LeBron has given as much to the game of basketball as anyone who has ever played,” Pelinka said. “When you do that, you earn a right to decide whether you’re going to give more. … Obviously, our hope would be that his career continues, but we want to give him the time to have that inflection point and support him along the way.”
Pelinka said that he and coach Darvin Ham would talk things over with James in the coming days, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.
The Lakers have only five players under contract next season, with just three on guaranteed contracts, and Pelinka gave a strong hint he’d like to retain many of the team’s free agents.
“We ultimately got knocked out by a team that has great continuity,” Pelinka said. “They’ve got a group of players that have been together for several seasons, and it shows in the way they play. We feel like we’ve got special players in the locker room that enjoy playing with each other. We know there’s more growth and improvement in that group, especially if we get a training camp together.”
We have more on the Lakers:
- Austin Reaves, headed to restricted free agency, said he’d like to stick around, Lakers reporter Mike Trudell tweets. “I want to be here. It feels like home to me, in a sense … the way the fans support me. Players, coaching staff, front office,” he said. “This is definitely somewhere I want to be, but we’ll see what happens.”
- The Western Conference Finals didn’t go well for unrestricted free agent, D’Angelo Russell. He struggled with his shooting and got removed from the starting five in Game 4. However, he labels his second stint with the Lakers a “complete success,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin tweets. “I really can’t complain about anything except the ball going in when I wanted it to,” Russell said.
- Tristan Thompson, who played 10 minutes in Game 4, would also like to return as he heads to free agency, Trudell tweets. “I’m all about winning. I’m two feet in for whatever the team needs. I love it here,” he said.
- Rui Hachimura, who will be a restricted free agent, says his experience with the Lakers since being traded from Washington was “one of the best moments,” the team tweets. “I learned a lot of things from LeBron, AD, the coaches,” he said. “It was great for my career.”
Austin Reaves is *restricted*
LeBron hinted that Pelinka has some work ahead of him. We know that Reaves will be back.
The real questions this offseason:
1. Is AD still the right pairing for LBJ on a championship team?
2. Does DLo have any trade value in a S&T or is he looking at a prove-you-still-got-it 1-yr contract?
3. Is Kyrie worth gutting the roster? It relates to the question above – why would Dallas pay 30M+ to DLo?
4. Do you just bring everyone back and then hope to make deals on draft day or at the trade deadline?
5. LBJ is not retiring, but could he actually request a trade?
2. D’Lo will struggle to even see anything over $15 million a season. So on the ST his value is nothing.
4. There is not enough to bring them all back. Schroder will get a much bigger deal. Rui pay is go way up. Walker pay is going way up. Their best bet is to bring back Reeves and Rui.
1- Yes
2- Not really, other than just a salary slot and they have other options there more easily obtainable (below *4)
3-Hell No
4- Yes, pay no attention to arc who doesn’t understand ledgers or how the markets work – This will be the big Q, Will Jeanie dig deep in the purse- (Tax apron 2 casualties)don’t even take place next year so keeping Bamba and Beasley makes a ton of sense to (like you say ) dangle pick 17 draft day, and draft deadline deals as well- The tax bill might be higher than she likes (for only 1 year) but it offers up the best possibilities to roster construct from that point forward, After that, you’ll never really have a chance for trade ballast guys like that moving forward for maybe a good 3~4 years
* I’m not confident she will completely flex out like a Ballmer/Lacob would on a dime, but she should as these opportunities will never come back. We have seen her be cheap at the table before, we’ll see soon here
5- Think anything’s possible and said the same as Pelinka, he’s really earned the right to do whatever he wants.
I disagree cap n crunch. Lakers bring back 2 but not all. Schroder and walker will be getting much bigger pay days just like Rui and Reeves. Like most teams its pick and choose who you can afford. The payroll will be over $160 million bring back the 2 most coveted players. That would be just for 8 players.
How has Pelinka earned the right to do whatever he wants? Trading for Westbrook was a disaster and the pieces the lakers acquired when shipping him out ended up flopping. Beasley and vando barely played vs the nugs and russell was awful. Crazy how people still support Pelinka/jeanie. Looking back the lakers gave up way too much for AD as well.
??? Without getting rid of Westbrook they don’t make the playoffs. Vando is a good defensive player but Ham wanted more scoring in the playoffs. Beasley is a regret since he will most likely pick up his option. Russel is as good as gone so it doesn’t hurt them.
Beasley has a team option so he will pick up nothing
Russell sucks … guy is worthless.
You know Lakers going after Kyrie. He’s the only who makes a difference for this team. Even BronGM will agree. No other player moves the needle like Ky does. Still not winning ….. soooooorrry
It’s over Bron …. Go buy a team and put in Vegas.
Lol pretty sure of yourself with such a lousy opinion
I know why would Kyrie sign with the Lakers for the minimum?
What makes the most sense is probably Reaves, Dlo and Rui all leaving. Reaves will get an offer near 20 mil, Dlo he’s an score first point guard that doesn’t defend well enough and struggles with efficiency. Lastly Rui I think will also get a really good offer elsewhere that the lakers can’t afford to retain. I think a more realistic and cheap option could be keeping Lonnie Walker. But really they need to go big.
Which means all I’m on Kyrie.
He’s the biggest name available, probably probably take a small discount to be with Bron and live in LA, on a real title contender. Then around him your once again building out with a bunch of fresh faces for as cheap as possible.
Tristan Thompson, Will Barton, Thomas Bryant (once again), Dennis Schroder and Troy Brown Jr (also returning)
Kyrie Walker Bron AD Bryant
Schroder Barton Brown Jr Vanderbilt Thompson
Dlo-Beasley-Rui-Bamba = 63mil coming off the books which should be plenty to get Kyrie.
Kyrie Bron and AD all give you 25 each roughly, then it’s about everyone else just doing their part. I like the more experienced guys like Tristan and Will being joined by the youth or Troy and Jarred. Think both guys have more left in the tank just need that leader to guide them. Think defensively the starters might struggle a little but losing Dlo is a good improvement. Offensively things should click better with Kyrie helping get guys more involved and drawing more attention away.
It’s the only way they stand any chance of winning a title anytime soon and it’s the best cave of prolonging LeBrons career
I can only imagine you hate the lakers if you’re advocating for them to sign will Barton
This post makes zero sense and breaks about 3~4 rules along the way just for fun
Time to hit the glossary and read up
“Dlo-Beasley-Rui-Bamba = 63mil coming off the books which should be plenty to get Kyrie.”
You do know that’s not how this works right? I’m guessing by your wording of “should” you know your flying dark here yourself
Pelinka did a great job giving the team flexibility for this off season. Rui and Reaves can easily be brought back (to join LBJ, AD and Vandy) whether they’re operating over the cap or under the cap.
If over the cap (more likely), they can use the full MLE on Schoeder or Walker (although they may be able to sign Walker with NBRs, and keep both). I assume they’d opt to retain Bamba and Beasley for a year (even if to trade them as expiring deals), and (possibly) use DLO’s contract even if just for a TPE. I don’t see DLO back with the LAL.
If under the cap (less likely), they’d have to walk from those contracts (Bamba, Beasley, Schoeder, Walker and DLO), for cap space in 17-20 mm range. Is there a FA worth it? Pretty much have to decide their path by draft night.
Spot on, about the polar opposite of whatever Russ Simmons just pecked out on his keyboard
Imo they will simply just operate over the cap
It’s not only easier it’s probably most effective
Staying only probably only occurs if they have a back channeled player already signed off on , ( I dont see that player either )
Jeanie just needs to channel daddy for a year and dig deep in that purse – Think Lals is pretty simple in that way comparatively – The work Rob will have to do lies in numbers not the names
*staying under
Resign everyone.
Exercise all team options.
Pay all the taxes.
Asset management to operate over the cap. Keep in mind that several contracts can be traded later on (DLo, Beasley, Bamba). Even Reaves and Rui depending on the offers.
Stop being cheap, Buss family.
Just got to the WCF. Number 18 was/is closer than it seemed.
If Kyrie really wants to join, sign for the vet minimum and stop playing around. Money aint the problem anyway. Had those huge Nike deals.
Which makes me think. If LeBron is so worried about winning another ring, then why does he up 47 million of the teams cap room? Instead of signing for less and opening up room for another solid piece? Makes no sense. Guy already has billions os dollars. Greedy man. No limits.
Spot on
* let’s just forget the kyrie part tho completely
**Lebron not taking the Brady contract is 100% valid imo but that was a convo for 18 months ago not today … but yes today is when the ramifications become valid – I’m always fjr players getting whatever they can , but LBJ knew what a Brady contract could possibly open up and he chose the other door- Not mad at hiim just wonder if he wishes he’d have played it differently today