The Los Angeles Lakers reported to the practise facility on Tuesday, with the exception of one player, for an exit interview with coach Darvin Ham and vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka. LeBron James is getting all the time he needs from his team to think about his future after telling ESPN that he would consider retiring this summer after being swept out of the Western Conference playoffs.
“When the time is right,” Pelinka said, “we’ll look forward to those conversations.” “But I will say this: LeBron has contributed as much to basketball as anyone who has ever played.” And when you accomplish that, you gain the right to choose whether or not to donate more. “I believe that we sometimes place sportsmen and celebrities on a pedestal, yet they are human beings just like us. They have career inflection moments, and our role as a Laker is to back any player on our team if they reach one… and truly provide nothing but support for him. Obviously, we hope that his career continues, but we also want to give him time.”
“When the time is right,” Pelinka said, “we’ll look forward to those conversations.” “But I will say this: LeBron has contributed as much to basketball as anyone who has ever played.” And when you accomplish that, you gain the right to choose whether or not to donate more. “I believe that we sometimes place sportsmen and celebrities on a pedestal, yet they are human beings just like us. They have career inflection moments, and our role as a Laker is to back any player on our team if they reach one… and truly provide nothing but support for him. Obviously, we hope that his career continues, but we also want to give him time.”
When questioned about James possibly retiring after four titles and ten visits to the NBA Finals, his teammates, many of whom were coming off the longest playoff run of their lives, expressed a combination of support and astonishment.
“It’d be crazy to see him away from the game, especially when I feel like he has a lot more in the tank,” D’Angelo Russell said.
“I feel like that’s human nature to be his age and be playing at the level that he’s playing at, putting his body through that much work,” Troy Brown Jr. said. I mean, I can see why he feels that way. Personally, I believe he will continue to play because he enjoys the game.”
The Lakers’ season began with five consecutive defeats in the regular season and finished with four straight losses to the Denver Nuggets in the conference finals, but Ham believes his first year on the job has only prepared the team for future success.
“Make no mistake, this is not a one-time deal,” Ham stated. “We’re going to be here; we’re going to be a problem to be solved.” I can assure you of that.”
James’ return to play in his 21st season would significantly boost Ham’s vow. The 38-year-old James is under contract for next season and coming off a season in which he was nominated to the All-NBA third team, but 2022-23 proved too much for him.
According to a source close to James, this is a “raw time” for the forward. James is digesting a season that went from disastrous to thrilling, as the Lakers upset the Memphis Grizzlies in the first round before dispatching the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the second; to devastating, as his 40 points in 48 minutes weren’t enough to lift L.A. to a win in Monday’s Game 4 against the Nuggets.
“Clearly, he’s got the right recipe because to be able to go from doctor opinions saying, ‘Oh, your season may be over,’ to ending last night is breathtaking,” Pelinka said.
While the Lakers will give James his space, Pelinka said that as long as the league’s all-time top scorer remains on board, the organisation will continue to develop around James and Anthony Davis, with younger talent around them. Davis, like James, is under contract for next season. Max Christie is the only other player that has a fully guaranteed contract with the Lakers for 2023-24. Jarred Vanderbilt has a minor partial guarantee, but with a total contract worth $4.7 million for next season, the Lakers will almost certainly take up his option.
“To us, LeBron and AD are an unrivalled combination that we’ll continue to lean into and build around,” Pelinka said. “We’re proud of that combination of superstars and want to continue to invest in it, as well as continue to advance the growth we had this year into next season.”
Although James and Davis will be the engine, the team will still need wheels to move, and the Lakers will have other important personnel selections to make.
Russell has until June 30 to sign a two-year, $67.5 million contract extension, after which he will become an unrestricted free agency.
For next season, the Lakers have club options on Malik Beasley ($16.5 million) and Mo Bamba ($10.3 million). Both Rui Hachimura and Austin Reaves are restricted free agents, which means Los Angeles may match any outside offers they get from other clubs in order to keep them.
“Our intentions are to keep our core of young guys together, and I think we saw incredible growth and achievement by Rui, Austin,” Pelinka remarked. “I could go down the list: Vando, D-Lo, and so on.” We have a lot of fantastic young players, and we want to do all we can to put the piece together.”
According to ESPN, L.A. intends to maintain Hachimura and Reaves and views them important cultural pieces for the organisation going ahead.
Russell is perhaps the most divisive member of the group.
While Russell Westbrook has been an obvious enhancement since being acquired from the Minnesota Timberwolves at the trade deadline, Russell struggled against Denver and lost his starting place in Game 4. He averaged 6.3 points on 32% shooting (13.3% from 3) and 3.5 assists in the series. On Tuesday, he made numerous interesting remarks, including declaring his second term with the team a “complete success.”
“I just give the praise to my IQ, my game study, just knowing how to prepare myself for what I was about to walk into mentally and physically, to recognise that and activate it,” he said. For that, I give myself another pat on the back. I have no clue what the future holds. I believe you’ll have some success if you put a bunch out there that understands the game and everyone wants the same objective.”
The former No. 2 overall choice in the 2015 draught indicated desire in returning but seemed confident regardless of what happened this summer.
“To be honest, at this stage in your career, I feel like you’re you. Russell said, “And I’m nice.” “I’m not concerned about my game. As a player, I know who I am. I’m aware of my capabilities. I have the ability to win games. I can outperform your point guard.
While the Lakers were washed out of the playoffs, there was no disputing how swept up the squad was in its incredible run from 2-10 to start the season to being one of the last four teams remaining. And there is a general consensus that another try next season may bring even greater success.
“I don’t think a team could ever beat us in a seven-game series again if we had this type of experience and played together,” Beasley said.
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