Within an in-depth feature for ESPN.com, Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst take a closer look at the Lakers‘ efforts to “delicately” transition from their LeBron James era to the Luka Doncic era and the challenges they’ve faced along the way.
As Shelburne and Windhorst detail, James wasn’t surprised by the fact that the Lakers have prioritized Doncic in recent months and understands the team has to set itself up for the future. However, “it also did not go down easily,” according to ESPN’s duo, who point out that LeBron specifically chose the Lakers as a free agent back in 2018, whereas Doncic never asked to be a Laker and had been planning to remain in Dallas for his entire career.
Shelburne and Windhorst suggest the Lakers have signaled their shift to Doncic with a “series of microaggressions” that started with not giving James any advance warning about the February trade for the Mavs star. Those microaggressions also included letting Doncic – but not LeBron – know ahead of time about the sale to Mark Walter so that he had a message of congratulations ready to go on social media, as well as not offering to extend James’ contract beyond the 2025/26 season.
James has responded to the Lakers’ decisions with a series of “cryptic hints” of his own, with agent Rich Paul‘s statement in late June representing the most notable one. According to Shelburne and Windhorst, Paul’s comments about LeBron wanting “to make every season he has left count” were interpreted in many different ways by teams around the NBA — some executives saw the statement as James pushing the Lakers to go all-in on this year’s roster, some viewed it as a soft trade request, and at least one considered it an “elaborate pout” due to the lack of contract extension.
Even if nothing comes of that statement and James spends the 2025/26 season with the Lakers without incident, it has had an impact. According to ESPN’s sources, veteran center Brook Lopez was strongly considering the Lakers in free agency due to their open starting spot at center, but was “wary of the uncertainty” surrounding James’ future and ultimately opted for a backup role with the Clippers instead.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Christian Koloko is still a restricted free agent, having not yet accepted his two-way qualifying offer from the Lakers, but there have been no indications to this point that he’ll be changing teams this offseason. The big man was added to the Lakers’ Summer League roster before the club’s Las Vegas opener on Thursday, notes Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link).
- If and when the Suns finalize a buyout agreement with Bradley Beal, the expectation is that they’ll use that roster spot on a point guard or possibly a combo guard, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7.
- The Clippers haven’t really deployed a traditional power forward in recent years, but they got exactly that sort of player when they acquired John Collins from Utah earlier this week, which will change the makeup of their roster, writes Law Murray of The Athletic. “Sometimes you have to make a decision between getting a great athlete who may struggle shooting the ball from range, versus getting the really skilled player who just maybe is just an average functional athlete,” president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said of the move. “John has shown the ability to be both, which is huge.”
Who is koko?
Christian Koloko, Bron fan. He’s an NBA player who’s NOT Lebron.
He is a bron fan? Random. I said koko not Koloko though
“Micro aggressions.” Seriously. It’s called doing business. The rift is likely the organization’s awkward transition from letting LeBron “run the show” to not. The ego is a fragile thing. It will be interesting what they do with Bronny going forward.
I LIVE for this Laker dysfunction, GOP Lizards! If there ever was an athlete who’d have the gall to walk off the court/field just before his/her retirement ceremony were to begin – leaving the organizers of said retirement ceremony hanging and his/her dwindling fan base gasping for air – it’d be LeBron, aka Brawny Sensation. This type of behavior has got Brawny written all over it. Lest we shall NOT stop revering the man, people!
It’s obvious. When LeBron is gone Bronny is cut the next day.
@GOP
I generally hate sticking up for billionaires but it’s incredible the narratives the media “tries” to create. LBJ had made it clear, with Kyrie and with AD that at his advanced age, he welcomes someone worthy of the responsibility, to take the reigns and take some weight and wear and tare off his back. The narrative has been that he always is asking for help. If so, then why would he have an issue with them bringing in Luka when he publicly stated that a) Lakers need to make moves that keep them competitive now AND for the future B) that he would love to play with Luka, Curry or Joker one day? Finally, LBJ couldn’t walked as a FA. If he truly wanted out then I’m sure he could’ve done so as a FA and if needed, I’m sure whatever team he wanted to go to would be open to a sign a trade of needed. And LBJ, as par for the course, seldom goes beyond 1 year as he stays his days are coming to an end and he evaluates his deciding at the end of each year. When did the LBJ suggest he wanted an extension and when did the Lakers say “no”? And I doubt new management would be adverse to having LBJ, who is still the have of the nba hang around for at least another year or two to compete and sell tickets? The math isn’t mathing.
Wonder if LeBron would have offered, in trying to win a championship, to have taken a significant pay cut, but a 2 year with 2nd year a player option, and continue the full no trade clause.
In essence, telling them to go for it, right now.
LeBron playing for the Veteran Minimum would have opened up about 10 million dollars for lakers in free agency. 4 million less than the non tax payer MLE. Him taking a pay cut does virtually nothing for them to add any player of significant value.
@Dark
So glad you said that Nevada most ppl clearly have no idea how the salary cap works. They assume that every dollar less he took would be available to use toward another player of significance like another star player.
There is an easy solution to this problem. Fire Nico Harrison and sell Luka back to Dallas for cash. LeBron’s happy, Luka’s happy. End of problem.
Then the Mavs would be worse with a terrible defense. And an Embiid like contract for a player who will be injured most seasons.
What is there to figure out Brook? Of course there is uncertainty regarding LeBron, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this is probably his last season. Most likely yours too.
I doubt he was referring to uncertainty about the ‘26-‘27 season; rather, my guess is that he was referring to whether LeBron would be traded/demand a trade this offseason.
Easy to understand Lebron last year in LA unless they get a championship then they will bring back everyone. LA is just tired of letting LeBron run the show which has been a big failure. I would hate for him to be an owner of a club.
You think his tenure of running the show was a big failure (Western Conference finals appearance, championship, playoffs), look at the decade prior.
Seven consecutive missed playoffs (longest in franchise history), internal drama, lawsuits amongst family owners, attempted hostile takeover.
Whatever you think about his time with LA, it was unquestionably better than immediately prior.
How good could they have been if they didn’t trade away draft pick and players to build around him? Instead won a trophy in the covid year that most people missed.
A trophy is a trophy. On top of them having the best record in the nba before the stoppage the lakers then lost the home court advantage they earned in 2020. They played in the same bubble as everyone else that asterisks crap is for the birds nobody cares winning is winning.
The COVID thing is a lazy argument. It is what it is. And how good could they have been with Julius randle, Brandon Ingram (perpetually injured), Lonzo (even worse), and Josh Hart instead of Anthony Davis? IDK ask new Orleans lol
Exactly
@arc
Unless they are a bottom feeder team then those picks mean nothing. The team has increased by $6.2 billion since LBJ came to LA. You don’t think Buss and Palenka don’t know why??? They were in the lottery for 4 or 5 years. Where did that get them?
Frankly, the iteration of the Lakers after Dr. Jerry with tJeannie, et al. has been been embarrassing. Owner/coach, brother/sister, the Rambi, all the f’n drama. Jeannie said owning the Lakers was a “public trust”, well what the hell happened?
He a won a chip. And brought AD in. Bron took full advantage of covid to win it. And AD brand Luka. I’d say its been a success …
@arc
Please tell me what was he running? Other than asking them to draft Bronny with a useless 55th overall pick they would likely have gotten to a draft and stash out been traded away for salary cap space. He couldn’t even get the coach he wanted until they hired JJ. Ppl act like the Lakers don’t want to win a much as LBJ does. If the only reason why they brought in guys in effort to win was because LBJ “forced” then to then that means they don’t want to win at all. Stupidity. The Lakers were worth $3.3 billion when LBJ signed and they were mired in the lottery as a 30 win team. He brings a chip to town 2 years later and keeps them competitive every year and they sold for $10 billion dollars. Plenty of pics of LBJ, Buss and Ms Rambis yucking it up courtside. The idea that they don’t love and appreciate him and know the value he brings to the franchise is laughable and new ownership knows that too. LBJ just wants them to stay focused on winning. I’m sure Luka wouldn’t want to waste next season either. And why wouldn’t new mngmt want them to compete for a title this year too? I mean what’s the bake of a 1st round pick that likely won’t be in the top 15???
Lakers are hilarious. Get Jeanie Buss out of there. Poorly run franchise. WTF is micro aggressions, especially when Lakers were horrible for like a decade before LeBron. Lucked up on Luka and forgot that literally no one wanted to play for the Lakers (hence overpaying Mosgov and Deng) just years ago. LeBron doesn’t have long left, no need to kick him on the way out. This is a max two year relationship at this point.
Sold the franchise but 5 more years of being run by the old regime. Yay.
You can speak for yourself on LeBron, as anyone else can. Personally, I’m kicking him on the way out and when he’s on the ground. For all the years of lies, excuses, blame games and self promotion via the puppets he pays. Guys a loser and wouldn’t survive in other era’s.
Yeah I mean more for the health and state of your own franchise. Luka hasn’t even re-signed and the plan is to crap on your other star to impress him? Seems like bad business
But he helped the Lakers win a summer league bubble tournament after a 4-month break between the regular season and postseason of 2020, Nrg82! That’s likely never been done before – taking 4 months off to rest up in-season before winning a chip in a sterile environment with no fans, no travel, and a good majority of the players on the playoff teams not really giving a damn about the outcome. Asterisk or no asterisk, if any NBA player was gonna stand front and center and celebrate in the midst of a pandemic – and hoped that enough people saw and cared – it’d be King James. We gotta give credit where credit is due. LeBron could be viewed as a trail blazer for that accomplishment. Honestly, who even REMEMBERS that he quit on the Lakers in the following season’s playoffs (blame that one on Silver for the abbreviated offseason) or that the Lakers didn’t make thhe play-in in ‘22 despite being among the title favorites heading into that season (Westbrook’s fault anyways). All water under the bridge if you ask me.
@The
what advantage did the Lakers have over any other team of they ALL PLAYED UNDER THE AND EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES?? You ppl are the dumbest ever. That title is a valid as any BECAUSE no one has an advantage. You don’t think the home crowd would’ve been one of the most powerful show of Support vs others? Walking in and seeing 17 banners hanging on the arena??
@nrg
What lies? Jordan had Nike to do his promotion. I have MJ as the goat but the hate towards LBJ comes from nothing but clowns. LBJ has done an excellent job as the have of the nba with no scandals. 4 chips and bring a billionaire don’t make you a loser, clown.
Sports business and egos.
Who is the man? Who is now the face of the team? This player was not courted enough to go to a new team? We need to let this guy know that it is no longer his team, but someone else team. Everyone needs to know who’s team it is. Having a public lunch with one player, signals to everyone that he is now the top dog.
I suppose it makes sense in the fact that, most likely a superstar makes much much more than their boss.
A microaggression? LOL. Or, maybe, it was a meeting of team brass with Luka to discuss Luka’s contract decision and its relationship to their team building intentions, which, believe it or not, doesn’t involve Lebron sufficiently to warrant his presence. Of course, Lebron going into his obligatory diva routine everytime anyone or anything suggests he may no longer be the fairest of them all doesn’t help much.
Doesn’t involve LeBron sufficiently~
Id argue the only thing involving LBJ in the convo is what the canvas looks like without him on it
Its why Im in huge favor of a transition (trade) yesterday even if the net is a 2025/26 loss with not much coming back . The sooner you get the blank canvas the sooner we can see what color pallets work
I love the lunch, sit um by the window facing Rodeo drive, 2 can play this game and sans a player option linked with a NTC the winner is pretty much already determined. Praying someone makes an offer (and I think the FO is too) but it would probably sadden the King too know one may not even exist in the entire NBA today
100% pulled a diva move over his bruised ego with his recent comments and subliminal stuff
Also, I can totally imagine the Lakers not wanting to tell LeBron about the potential sale because (a) he has made it clear he wants to buy a team someday soon and (b) they have legit concerns that LeBron and Rich Paul will somehow screw up their deal or insert themselves in some way.
Nothing lasts forever but the sun & sky. LBJ’s good while he is still has his strength & athleticism but he’s 40 now! It would be a lot worser if he’d stay longer, coz younger players will just humiliate him on the court. Make that 52M counts then retire Lebron!
Imo opting in to contract. Is sticking it to Lakers. He knows he is a goner. So why make it easy for the transition. Bron is done. Not winning in LA. And the career is at the end. This is what he gets for being a rolling stone. There are no real roots. Best thing he can do. Is get a buyout at TD. And end it in Cleveland. Probably can sign for his last year there. And can seriously challenge for a chip for two yrs. If he wins one. They probably build a statue. I’m sure he wants that.
@Knick
If you truly think the new mngmt wants to get rid of the biggest face of the nba then you’re crazy. The Dodgers are a star studded team. Why is anyone acting like having LBJ and Luka is a bad thing? Luka hasn’t signed an extension. Why would anyone think he would be cool with giving away 2025-26? Why would abide think the Lakers could attract another top 10-15 player? The Lakers and Knicks have been unable to attract guys who were marquee guys for the last decade. Push LBJ out the door for what? The main reason they didn’t go far last year was due to injuries to both LBJ and Luka, a lack of time to gel…
and oh yeah, a freaking tall guy at center that had talent!!
Jebron Lames!
Not sure if it’s the Lakers or the media that are trying to spin their dysfunction as some sort of master plan but this is the dumbest article I ever read. They didn’t tell LeBron about the Lakers sale because they wanted to tell Luka? Are they not aware they could have done both? Maybe even on the same phone call?