The Los Angeles Lakers‘ offseason began with the uncertainty surrounding LeBron James‘ future with the team.
It is increasingly likely that James will end up sticking with the Lakers.
On Wednesday, July 16, The Athletic reported, citing league and team sources, that the Lakers have received “no indication” of a forthcoming trade request or buyout talks from James or his representatives.
James showed up in the last two Lakers’ Summer League games to throw his full support to his teammates, particularly his son, Bronny James. But he’s also been heavily engaged with the other members of the team — from the coaching staff to his new teammates, Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia, and holdovers Dalton Knecht and Austin Reaves, who also pulled up in Las Vegas.
Barring any of the wild scenarios — trade or buyout — that have been speculated by league personnel and talking heads on social media and TV, James will enter his unprecedented 23rd season in the NBA with the Lakers, according to The Athletic.
In the sections filled with employees from other teams, scouts and executives around the NBA buzzed with speculation about where else James might play, tossing around trade and buyout scenarios that, league and team sources told The Athletic, have never been discussed between James and the Lakers.
Amid the constant speculation recently about his future, both the Lakers and people close to the NBA’s all-time leading scorer expect that he will be with the organization for training camp once the season begins this fall, league sources told The Athletic.
The Athletic story echoed ESPN’s Dave McMenamin’s earlier report, directly quoting Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, that James has not asked or wants a trade in the future.
“Paul also made it clear to me that LeBron has not asked for a trade, and Paul has not even discussed the possibility of wanting a trade in the future with the Lakers,” McMenamin said during the ESPN broadcast of the NBA Summer League game between the Lakers and the New Orleans Pelicans on July 12. “Paul did tell me that four teams contacted him with interest in trading for LeBron, though, so now we wait.”
Rich Paul’s Controversial Statement
When James picked up his $52.6 million player option, without a contract extension offer, Paul issued a strong statement to ESPN that served as the ignition of the rumor mill surrounding James’ future with the Lakers.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN’s Shams Charania. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
Paul also added that James will closely monitor the Lakers’ offseason.
“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future,” Paul continued. “We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”
LeBron Set to Play His Longest Tenure With Any Team
The Lakers answered their most pressing problem at center with Ayton, a former No. 1 pick, who shares the same agent — WME Sports basketball head Bill Duffy — with Luka Doncic, the new face of the franchise.
If James finds that enough to make him believe they have a chance to compete next season, he will play his eighth season with the Lakers, the longest tenure he has had for any team in the NBA.
James is one of the only two players — the other is Phoenix Suns’ Bradley Beal — who have a no-trade clause. That clause gives James the power to choose where he wants to play next if, in the event, the Lakers or he wants a trade.
For now, he’s a Laker. That’s all that matters for the Lakers.
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