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Los Angeles Lakers: Three biggest questions heading into next season

By Jason Reed

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Head coach Tyronn Lue (L) of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers after a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Head coach Tyronn Lue (L) of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks with LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers after a quarterfinal game of the 2018 NBA Summer League between the Lakers and the Detroit Pistons at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 15, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

3. How much longer will LeBron James’ prime be?

Look, we do not want to be the negative Nancy of the media and proclaim that LeBron may not even be the same player a year from today. He has shown nothing but hard work and consistency throughout his career that it is hard to question when that eventual downfall will be until it actually happens.

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Right now, James looks like he is going to be the player that defies father time and plays deep into his career at a very high level. The fact is, that is not the case. Michael Jordan could not beat father time, Kobe Bryant could not beat father time. Nobody can.

And Kobe Bryant is the perfect example. All it takes is one freak injury, one landing wrong at the end of a jump shot, dunk or chase down block and the Lakers could begin to see the decline of LeBron’s career. While he will still be great, it is possible that last season was the last year of his prime.

James took on an unheard of workload last season and is undoubtedly going to be feeling it next season. He has also had the luck of never suffering a serious injury, something that has kept his prime going for an entire decade. Part of that is his work ethic and staying in shape but some of it is luck.

Even the healthiest, most athletic players can suffer a freak injury. It does not even have to be something grotesque. At LeBron’s age, any injury is a scary injury.

Chances are that LeBron will carry his prime into next year and give the Lakers an MVP-caliber season. However, that is not a guarantee and Laker fans would be foolish to at least not acknowledge that there could be other outcomes.

Next. Three trades to get rid of Luol Deng. dark

Hopefully, LeBron can give the Lakers at least two more MVP seasons and still be super productive in the last two years of his contract.

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