Evidently the Lakers and LeBron James may not be on the identical web page about the way forward for the crew.
On Tuesday, an interview with the crew’s proprietor, Jeanie Buss, made it clear that she’s dedicated to a long-term future with James. In the meantime, in a separate interview James mentioned that he’s watching different groups’ future first-round picks.
Whereas discussing James re-signing with the Lakers on a two-year $97.1 million contract extension, Buss informed The Athletic that “it’s a precedence to the Laker model that he retire a Laker.”
However James, a four-time NBA champion who led the Lakers to a title within the 2020 NBA bubble season, informed Sports activities Illustrated that he’s “paying consideration” to future first-round picks to presumably play along with his sons in the event that they determine to pursue their very own NBA careers.
“I’d positively be taking a look at who obtained first-round picks in 2024, 2025, issues of that nature; 2026, ’27,” James mentioned. “I take note of that kind of stuff.”
James — who has a participant choice for 2024-25 — left the door open when requested if there's a probability he might stick round to play along with his youngest son, Bryce, who's 15.
“I really feel like I might play for fairly some time,” he mentioned. “So it’s all as much as my physique, however extra importantly, my thoughts. If my thoughts can keep sharp and contemporary and motivated, then the sky’s not even a restrict for me. I can transcend that. However we will see.”
James has made it recognized that he needs to play along with his oldest son, Bronny, who's getting into his senior 12 months at Sierra Canyon Excessive Faculty and is a prime prospect for the category of 2023.
However that is believed to be the primary time he has talked about the potential of holding out his enjoying profession till his youngest son is draft-eligible.
As for Buss, she mentioned she is staying “cautiously optimistic” about James re-signing with the Lakers.
“LeBron is a really passionate particular person, and he needs to be put able the place he can succeed,” she mentioned. “And it’s as much as individuals like me and [GM] Rob [Pelinka] and our entrance workplace to place him in these sorts of positions.
“He felt that what he heard [in an emergency meeting in February following rumblings of a Cleveland reunion] was what he wished to listen to and made him really feel assured going ahead and I couldn’t be extra joyful that he sees that we need to win simply as a lot as he does and that there’s numerous nice issues which can be going to occur whereas he’s a Laker. …No matter our non-public conversations are, he confirmed his religion in us by signing that extension.
Buss added that “modifications wanted to be made” after final season, when the 33-49 Lakers did not make the playoffs, which she referred to as a “large disappointment.”
The crew’s present plans embody its current acquisition of standout defender Patrick Beverley, whom the Lakers traded for final week. However that transfer additionally stirred up questions on the place level guard Russell Westbrook would match inside the roster — a separate report by The Athletic mentioned that Beverley’s arrival is indicative that Westbrook will probably be off the lively roster.
“Pat Beverley was introduced right here to play protection, to be that man that is aware of the way to push his teammates, [who] units an instance with how he approaches his job,” Buss mentioned. “The day of the commerce, he was already right here after work hours figuring out. I obtained an opportunity to say hiya to him as I used to be leaving for the day. He simply brings that work ethic that we worth, that coach [Darvin] Ham values and goes to be a pacesetter within the locker room.
“So it has nothing to do with Russ. And like I mentioned, I believe that folks, they love to tug up storylines and create one thing and that simply isn’t the case.”
Buss additionally mentioned it’s about “managing personalities” inside the Lakers roster.
“And coach Ham is ready and fearless in terms of stuff like that.”
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