Lakers and Clippers vote to strike rest of season ahead of NBA Board of Governors meeting

The Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron James voted to strike the rest of the season on Wednesday night.

The two marquee teams in the Western Conference, whom many are looking forward to seeing face off in the West Finals, were the two teams who voted to strike the rest of the season at a meeting that occurred on Wednesday night in the NBA bubble between all of the players on the campus. The meeting came about after the Milwaukee Bucks led a league-wide strike on Wednesday as they refused to take the court against the Orlando Magic for their Game 5.

According to Chris Haynes of the NBA on TNT/Yahoo and Shams Charania of The Athletic, the two L.A. teams were the two teams who led the vote to cancel the rest of the season. LeBron James, in particular, was upset that owners did not join players in sorting out the issues at hand.

The NBA will have a meeting of its Board of Governors on Thursday morning as it looks like the remainder of the season in serious doubt as the players look for something to change with regards to the constant violence inflicted on Black people in America.

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Report: Lakers offered Russell $100 million as back-up plan for Kawhi

The Los Angeles Lakers also pursued D’Angelo Russell in the offseason before settling on the role players that filled out their squad.

Considering how things are going for the Los Angeles Lakers right now, with a 22-3 record after 25 games, it’s hard to imagine any other reality being better than the one they are living in right now. But as it goes in the NBA, there were several sliding doors moments that could have changed the Lakers.

One of those sliding doors moments was Kawhi Leonard’s decision to join the L.A. Clippers after the Clippers traded for Paul George, deciding against joining the Lakers or staying with the Toronto Raptors. But until yesterday, we were unaware of the details on another potential moment that would have changed the complexion of the Lakers.

D’Angelo Russell was a serious back-up plan for the Lakers, according to The Athletic’s Anthony Slater.

Russell only wanted serious bidders and, sources say, he had three: The Lakers — wouldn’t that have been quite the reunion? — nearing a potential $100 million offer but in limbo until Kawhi Leonard made his choice, the Wolves, up over $100 million but still needing to create cap room to get to his max, and the Warriors, offering the full max in a complicated sign-and-trade involving Durant.

Although Russell would have had an opportunity to play for the Lakers under a new regime and with two new star players, the checkered past involving Russell and the Lakers is likely a big reason why he decided to take the bigger check to go play with Golden State.

Had Russell waited, the Lakers team they currently have would look a lot different. Danny Green probably wouldn’t be on the team and LeBron James almost certainly wouldn’t be leading the NBA in assists. But considering the high level of basketball the Lakers are playing right now, it’s hard to imagine how things could have worked out any better for the.