Lakers Rumors: Why the Lakers should not pursue LeBron James
By Jason Reed
2. There are better, younger, long-term options
LeBron James is 32 years old and is set to turn 33 this December. While James definitely is not in the upper levels of seniority in the NBA, he is entering the twilight of his prime and the point of his career where he may take a back seat. Don’t get me wrong, James is still the best player in the NBA for at least this season, if not next, and he will still be an all-star for several years.
However, father time is the only undefeated presence in sports. It gets the best of them, Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan are prime examples. While LeBron may be the Tom Brady of the NBA and will be able to produce at an MVP level for years to come, this is still a huge risk to be taking if you are the Los Angeles Lakers.
Every move in the NBA is a gamble, and no bigger gamble exists than taking on a 33-year-old entering his 16th season. Playing at the highest level takes a toll on your body. Although James does have the recipe to play at the highest level, the chances of injury grow with every ongoing season.
James especially will be asking for a long-term deal as his career comes as a back up in case he does suffer an injury that lowers his value. LeBron would be a good option for the Lakers for a season or two, he definitely is not worth the risk of any contract longer than two seasons.