A statement last month indicated that Jeanie Buss is expected to remain the Lakers‘ governor “for the foreseeable future” even after the team is sold to incoming owner Mark Walter. That “foreseeable future” will span quite some time, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic, who hears from a source that the agreement between the two sides calls for Buss to remain in her governor role for at least the next five seasons.
We have more on the Lakers:
- Speaking to reporters at his introductory press conference on Tuesday, new Lakers center Deandre Ayton said that signing with Los Angeles “feels like a video game” and that he doesn’t intend to take the opportunity for granted, as Mark Medina of RG.org relays. Ayton called new teammate Luka Doncic a “once-in-a-generation player” and cited Doncic’s and LeBron James‘ career assist numbers as one reason why he expects to thrive in L.A. “They turn (their teammates) into superstars,” Ayton said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. “They make them bigger than their roles, they make them very important on the floor.”
- Ayton also said on Tuesday that he’s motivated by critics who have questioned his effort, focus, and maturity, according to Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. “It fuels me,” Ayton said. “It fuels me up completely. And it’s a different type of drive that I’ve been wanting to express for a long time. I think this is the perfect timing, here in the purple and gold. And it’s a platform that I cannot run from. I can show what I really am and just be around some greats to really emphasize that for me as well. It is a lot of fuel in me to prove to the whole world.”
- After social media posts revealed that LeBron James visited the Cavaliers‘ practice facility last week, the star forward clarified (via Twitter) that it’s an annual occurrence for him, since he lives and trains in the area during the offseason. Still, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said during an appearance on ESPN Cleveland (Twitter video link) that LeBron knew what he was doing when he was photographed in the Cavs’ building amidst speculation about his future. “LeBron absolutely knows that he will cause a wave with these social media things,” Windhorst said (hat tip to Adam Zagoria of NJ.com). “On one hand, he is just coming home for the holiday, he is just doing something that he has done numerous times in the past. On the other hand, by doing what’s he’s doing, he’s absolutely poking the bear and being passive aggressive. And by the way, the Lakers are being passive-aggressive back at LeBron. They did not announce his option pick-up. So they’re both acting in the same way. Now, how is this going to get resolved? And my answer to you, in full honesty, is I don’t know.”
Honestly the Lakers would love to trade LeBron at this point. Not because he isn’t a good player or valuable, but if with Cleveland you can get De’Andre Hunter and Allen back or the Mavs you get Gaffird, PJ and Nahi back, that’s a huge win for the Lakers. But it’s not going to happen.
However, hopefully, LeBron and Palenka make peace do that LeBron is all in at least next year.
gafford can’t be traded since he just signed an extension.
He actually can cause the extension is only 20% higher than this coming year’s salary.
But, again, it isn’t going to happen.
LeBron is not as coveted by other teams as the media claims. Mavs are better not making that trade.
I agree. Like I said it isn’t going to happen; however, if it does, it is good for the Lakers. So his threats not going to work on the Lakers. They would help him facilitate a trade IF they are getting any value back.
BUT can LeBron’s know how and still playing at an elite level help a team on the cusp? Sure!
Also, what I said if the Mavs makes sense for them. They haven’t extended PJ, with cooper Flagg he will become redundant, plus, LeBron playing the same position. Gafford is somewhat redundant as they have lively and AD. Also, LeBron can help playing facilitator as they need Trey badly this year. So, it would make perfect sense for the Mavs, but the price tag makes it impossible for them cause they would need to get 3 additional players which will take them over the 2nd apron.
Mavs are moving AD to the PF spot. Flagg will not be ready for full time service until more end of season so Mavs syill need gafford to man teh Center spot with Lively. Lebron value will go way up close to trade deadline so if lakers struggle first half I wouldn’t doubt the trade him.
Trade Lebron with Spida and the Lakers can win a championship…
Ayton said all the right things so it looks really good with him next year:
1. He knows this is Luka’s team. That means he knows his role and doesn’t expect to be the star like he did in Phoenix.
2. In another sort of the question and answer he detailed exactly what the Lakers need from him: high effort on defense, be an easy pick and roll option for Luka and LeBron (and I will add Reaves in there).
3. He admitted that his reputation needs salvaging snd playing next to the greats like Luka and LeBron will do that.
4. That Luka and LeBron elevate their players make them look like superstars. Again, a humble point that he realizes he needs to get with the program and he will have success and not think that he should be the focal point of the offense.
I think Lakers fans have reason to be optimistic about next season after that interview. He said all the right things.
Optimistic if round 2 of playoffs is the goal. It’d be a reach to get into West finals
Potential is much higher:
1. Luka playing with the team all year and coming in healthy.
2. They have a good center now.
3. Rui went into playoffs with leg injury that they said needs weeks to heal.
4. LeBron was recovering from groin injury.
5. Luka got sick during playoffs.
6. Reaves had bad toe throughout the playoffs.
The most important reason is they have Luka. He took a worse team than this to the finals.
Ayton ALWAYS says the right things – then does exactly the same things he’s done since he’s been in the league. He’s lazy, doesn’t want to play defense, and is a really poor teammate. It won’t be any different in LA.
We’re gonna need BIGGER bags of popcorn for this upcoming Lakers season: Nobody-wants-you-anymore James Sr. (bugging the HELL outta him! How is he gonna focus on team basketball to try win a chip with this mentality going in??!!), Everybody-wants-to-iso-against-me James Jr., _ean_re Aint’on, Austin-can’t-wait-to Leaves – and imagine if Hookah Doncic decides NOT to sign the extension when he’s eligible; that would just be extra butter, salt, and maybe even some caramel on the popcorn!!
Chosen dud You’re trying too hard.
He’s exactly Davey J except he hates LeBron instead of Steve Kerr.
He also pouts and is a bad club house presence.
The blazers players and staff have says that Ayton was a great teammate. So there is that!
I mean it sounds like he doesnt think anything is wrong with his game or attitude, and hes motivated by the haters. Too bad he actually does all those bad things that he doesnt seem willing to cop to. If he was like yeah I did those things and they werent good I will do better moving forward. Rather than not owning up to doing detrimental things on and off the court that have been issues his whole career. They arent haters when they are right about your issues.
LeBron is just fishing for a new team next year. He is going to be very disappointed in his pay next year since most teams will pass on the high amount he wnats due to cap space.
It’s so funny that you people, on here, talk like you’ve actually got a clue.
You know nothing of the inner workings of anything NBA-related. All you can do is fish for info that the media members provide you, and even they don’t know most of anything.
Give it a rest.
Now that is funny. Just like you have no clue on anything. let me guess you think polictiacal news stations know anything? That expert on the news is an expert on the military or health. You sound like you take these rumor sites as if they are the only source. I trust this site more than I trust sporting news or SI. Every site people are guessing but getting mad over a comment shows you have control issues.
Your comprehension is clearly lacking, so let me explain it again. The actual people that work for the website are getting info from whatever sources they get them from.
You, and the people speculating in the comments section, don’t know squat. Yet you have enough hubris to try and say nonsense like “LeBron is done”, “Nobody wants him”. Are y’all that daft to actually believe the nonsense you spew? Just wait for verified info and stop projecting.
You sure make me laugh coco. Reminds me of a Seinfeld episode. I bet you are jumping up and down. Don’t read comments. that was easy…. Reminds me of that guiy davey that gets upset if somebody doesn’t praise his bad trade ideas. Or are you davey???
You people is you to because you are here to. So you know nothing about nothing also. So enjoy your fish 🐠. Coco
Unless his production drops off dramatically this season he’s still worth more than his salary.
Getting fans in the seats makes him worth it but the problem now in the NBA is there are not many teams under the cap. So he probably will need to do a sign and trade with Lakers getting pieces back for him.
I agree that not many contending teams will be able to give him more than 30 million via cap space.
Even if they would get back than amount in jersey sales, it would be difficult to give him that salary.
But i think Lakers would give him his sign-and-trade next off season, as long as the return is good enough. But even then I see him earning much less than this year…
@arc
The point of cap space is to sign top players. Even at age 40 LBJ is still arguably a top 10 to 15 player. How many guys gave you 25/7/7 on near or above 50%/38+% shooting? Maybe 5 guys if that? LBJ can still be a #1 option or #1b on a champio team meaning, a well put together team not what the Lakers had last year with zero bigs expecting LBJ to play center for 40 minutes up against the Wolves who ate loaded with 6’8 + guys who can play.
like I said it will be about cap space so a Lebron S/T would be the most likely outcome. He is still worth $50 million because of putting fans in the stand. I don’t see him as a #1 option anymore. He hasn’t been that in about the last 5 years. #2 option on many teams.
Bron is done lol. Probably his camp just generating publicity. Always hard to accept the end …..
In what world is he done?? 25/7/7 worry shoo near/ over 50/38 doesn’t sound “done” to me. He has a better overall just than Devin Booker who is 13 years younger and just signed a deal paying him $70 mil a deal. He’s not even top 10 in salary next year. Even with him not going 100% defensively he arguably a bargain at $52 mil compared to Booker, Beal, Brown and Butler, all who will get paid now next year.
Annual thing? Since when? Training cough cough in Miami has been an annual thing too.
Bron has been to more Finals than anyone in his era. This is Like a mid life crisis lols. He is having a hard time accepting the end is near. If he really wanted a chance at another Finals . He could have just opted out of his contract. And gone back to Cleveland. Sign for minimum for two yrs. Then he probably wins one more. Why would any team except Lakers want a 40 yr old 57 mill Bron on their team. This is just Bron and his team craving attention. …….not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, not 5, not 6, not 7 …. shhh sshhhhh (2–2 with Heat)
4–6 in Finals …… time to be a Robin.
Bron still has a chance during season. Get a buyout and go to a contender. Celtics, Knicks Cavs Pistons ….
Better yet trade Lebron to the Cavs for Spida. Lakers with Luka, Spida and Ayton will have a better chance for a championship.