What’s subsequent for LeBron James and the Lakers after L.A. was eradicated from playoff competition Tuesday with a 116-97 loss to the Suns?
The disastrous finish to an injury-plagued season brings on a slew of questions on how the Lakers will transfer ahead. Which position gamers will return? Will L.A. commerce Russell Westbrook? Can they even commerce the previous league MVP, who has a $47 million participant possibility for the 2022-23 season?
Final month, Westbrook and the Lakers reportedly had mutual curiosity find him a brand new staff this summer time. However after his season ended Tuesday, Westbrook mentioned he expects to stay with the staff.
“I imply, that’s the plan,” Westbrook mentioned about returning subsequent season to complete the final 12 months on his Lakers contract. “However nothing is promised. Sure, we wish to have the ability to see what that appears like, what that entails over the course of an 82-game season. However we’re unsure if that’s assured, both. So I simply hope that we have now an opportunity to have the ability to do one thing.”
The Westbrook commerce took away any security internet the Lakers had for the rapid future. He's the highest-paid participant on L.A.’s roster, incomes $44 million, forward of LeBron James ($41 million). One chance of dumping the Westbrook contract could possibly be to flip it for John Wall, who has an identical remaining contract with the Rockets.
The Lakers acquired Westbrook final summer time in hopes of forming a Large 3 with James and Anthony Davis, who was restricted to 40 video games this season attributable to damage. James additionally handled accidents all through his career-high scoring season, and the Large 3 performed simply 21 video games collectively.
“Who is aware of?” Davis mentioned Tuesday about what the long run holds in L.A. — after recording 21 factors and 13 rebounds within the Suns loss. Tuesday’s defeat marked L.A.’s seventh straight loss in a Hail Mary try to qualify for the play-in event.
The Lakers are 31-48 on the season — already probably the most losses in a season by any James-led staff in his profession with nonetheless three to go. The collapse of L.A’.s season started proper after the All-Star break, with the Lakers posting the worst post-break report in franchise historical past
After uniting a Corridor of Fame roster that included Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard, L.A.’s grasp plan was rapidly foiled when James and Co. couldn’t gel collectively on the ground.
The Lakers’ plan for key position gamers additionally failed. Kendrick Nunn by no means appeared in a single sport this season attributable to a knee damage. Different key position gamers, together with Kent Bazemore and Trevor Ariza, performed only a third of the season.
“This 12 months, we had extra beginning lineups than wins,” Davis mentioned. “Our aim was to win a championship. Really feel like we had the items, however accidents acquired in the best way of that. And that was the distinction within the season.”
On Monday, Lakers legend Magic Johnson went on an ESPN morning present spree and torched the Lakers for selecting a Westbrook experiment over buying Bulls star DeMar DeRozan, who's enjoying history-making basketball in Chicago.
Johnson additionally mentioned Lakers coach Frank Vogel would possible be the autumn man. Quickly after Johnson’s feedback, Vogel was the topic of a firing report, which wasn’t a shock, as his job has been questioned all season lengthy attributable to L.A.’s steady struggles.
“Extraordinarily disenchanted,” Vogel mentioned after the Lakers’ season ended Tuesday. “Disillusioned for our fan base. Disillusioned for the Buss household, who gave us all this chance and we need to play our half in bringing success to Laker basketball and we fell quick.”
The ending of the Lakers’ season begs one other query: Will James decide to a contract extension this summer time?
The 37-year-old is eligible for a contract extension on Aug. 4 — and by then, the Lakers may have an adjusted roster and a special coach.
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