LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Insider Reveals Lakers Mistake That Could Drive LeBron Out of L.A.

By Jason Schandl

Apr 16, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans in a play-in game of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans in a play-in game of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the New Orleans Pelicans at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
facebooktwitterreddit

A high-profile team like the Los Angeles Lakers is always going to attract major headlines and drama in the offseason. A team with LeBron James will always do the same. Mixing the two has produced what we're seeing right now — rampant speculation about what LeBron will do, around the next Lakers head coach and even about whether the Lakers will draft LeBron's son.

Of course, another factor that you always get with LeBron is his desire to have input in roster decisions. Teams have to balance whether to build the roster the way they think is right and risk upsetting LeBron, or whether to build a roster he likes even if it doesn't make business sense.

LeBron recently made some bold comments around not getting to play with Kyrie Irving, and Brian WIndhorst reveals the Lakers could have absolutely made that happen last offseason if they had wanted to.

After LeBron came out and said "... I'm so f------ mad...that I am not [Kyrie's] running mate anymore," Windhorst revealed some key details from last offseason. Both Kyrie and LeBron wanted to play together again. The Lakers knew LeBron wanted them to bring in Kyrie.

Instead they focused on retaining as many pieces as possible from the 2023 Western Conference Finals squad. That included handing out the following contracts:

  • Austin Reaves: 4 years, $54 million
  • Rui Hachimura: 3 years, $51 million
  • Jarred Vanderbilt: 4 years, $48 million
  • Gabe Vincent: 3 years, $33 million

Choosing these moves over signing Kyrie (who got 3 years and $120 million from the Dallas Mavericks) sent a clear message. The Lakers were going to prioritize what they thought was best for the long-term health of the franchise. Keeping together this young and already accomplished core through at least 2026 was worth potentially upsetting LeBron as he headed into what could be the final year of his contract.

LeBron has said that he's not just going to automatically go sign with whoever drafts Bronny James, but that doesn't mean he's a guarantee to accept his $51 million player option for the 2024-25 season.

The ship may have sailed on him teaming up with Kyrie again, but he's not someone who has been shy about doing everything he can to play where he wants and with who he wants.

Whether you think the Lakers made the right move skipipng the Kyrie signing last offseason or not, it could prove to be a key factor that leads to LeBron's departure.

Of course, that doesn't mean L.A. is entirely ignoring what LeBron wants. James' friend and podcast co-host JJ Redick has emerged as the clear favorite to land the Lakers' open head coaching job. It's hard to imagine that the goal of keeping LeBron happy wouldn't be a significant factor in that hiring.

DraftKings Sportsbook likes LeBron's chances of staying in L.A., with the Lakers sitting as huge -425 favorites to be the team he suits up for in the 2024-25 season.

More Los Angeles Lakers news and analysis:

feed

Home/Los Angeles Lakers