LeBron James does not want to waste season, prefers Lakers trade first-round picks to improve team

LeBron James, who turns 38 next month and is in Year 20 of his NBA career, does not want to waste a season of his high-level playing days in hopes of incoming reinforcements for the 2023-24 campaign, sources say. Other core players on the roster …

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
Inside the critical decisions for the Lakers, how it could prompt key players to sour on the direction of the franchise, and LeBron James’ unwillingness to stand pat and waste a season, league sources tell @BleacherReport: bleacherreport.com/articles/10055…4:07 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Lakers practice opens up to the media and we see that LeBron James is in a leg sleeve. pic.twitter.com/YMSwlFam894:04 PM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron is here at Lakers practice, wearing slippers and a black sleeve up his left leg while shooting a little. pic.twitter.com/YNoEkd1nzI4:03 PM

Ethan Strauss @SherwoodStrauss
Since LeBron is commenting on the Kyrie saga… houseofstrauss.substack.com/p/maybe-the-pe…3:05 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
In a vacuum, absorbing a bad season to get to next summer where picks/cap space are in play makes sense for the Lakers. But LeBron will be 38 next month. Can LA really punt this year with the hope that the offseason will offer better upgrades? – 1:57 PM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
The Lakers have the second-worst record in the league. LeBron James suffered a groin injury. Could things get much worse for this team?
foxsports.com/stories/nba/le…1:43 PM
Ben Golliver @BenGolliver
Story: LeBron James’s groin injury plunges Lakers deeper into nightmare start @PostSports washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/11…12:23 PM
Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
Thursday’s @LockedOnLakers podcast! The Lakers lose to the Clippers, and LeBron exits the game after (re?)injuring his groin. Plus, another quiet 4th quarter from Anthony Davis. #FirstListen @LockedOnNetwork @LockedOnNetwork
Subscribe. Rate. Enjoy. Thx
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leb…10:48 AM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
Lakers-Clippers takeaways: LeBron James on lack of calls, ‘I gotta learn how to flop’ latimes.com/sports/lakers/…10:44 AM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
My dude ⁦@Dan Woike⁩ had this news in ⁦@latimes⁩ on: Lakers’ LeBron James exits game against Clippers with left leg soreness latimes.com/sports/lakers/…10:44 AM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
The talented ⁦@Andrew Greif⁩ has this in ⁦@latimessports⁩ on: Clippers find their groove while LeBron James hurt late in win over Lakers latimes.com/sports/clipper…10:42 AM
Terrence Ross @TerrenceRoss
Terrence Ross plays MyTeam as LeBron..😳 (NBA 2K23) youtu.be/qA49Sa3tdYY via @YouTube10:14 AM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
LeBron James on injuries: “I’ve been fine. I’ve only missed one game.” pic.twitter.com/IRzxsbIvRF9:11 AM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
LeBron drops 30, then leaves latest Lakers loss with groin injury, MRI coming nba.nbcsports.com/2022/11/10/leb…8:52 AM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
LeBron James: “I need to learn how to flop or something” pic.twitter.com/348KQdReLm8:03 AM

Dave McMenamin @mcten
New story: LeBron James will undergo testing Thursday to determine the extent of his groin injury as an already *obviously* rocky Lakers season hit its latest snag es.pn/3WOiPI73:36 AM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
The 17 free throws that Lakers attempted tonight was a season-low for games played by the LeBron James/Anthony Davis/Russell Westbrook trio.
The Clippers continue to excel and improve at defending without fouling, though Tyronn Lue says his team needs to be better in the bonus. pic.twitter.com/wCuKTbfCKT2:54 AM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron James said his left groin injury, a “spasm or strain” against the Clippers, wasn’t as bad as the one that kept him out a month in 2018-19. But all the same, the already struggling Lakers are bracing for their leading scorer to possibly miss time: ocregister.com/2022/11/09/lak…2:52 AM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Anyone that didn’t laugh at LeBron saying he has to “learn how to flop” has zero sense of humor. Come on, guys lol – 1:19 AM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
LeBron James said he needs to learn how to flop. “Seriously,” he added. He’s frustrated he’s not getting enough calls. – 1:12 AM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Anthony Davis on adjusting without LeBron James pic.twitter.com/zOvHat3co71:11 AM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
LeBron James, who’s been frustrated with his lack of foul calls this season, said that this is the third straight game that the refs have told him they missed calls that should’ve led to FTs for him.
“I need to learn to flop or something,” James said. – 1:08 AM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
LeBron James on his frustration with the lack of calls pic.twitter.com/6hdVdSxDmW1:08 AM

Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron said he’s getting frustrated with not getting whistles, that players who are taking mostly jump shots are getting more free throws than him. He says three games of refs telling him “I missed it” is getting old. – 1:08 AM
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
LeBron James says he “felt a little spasm” when he landed tonight but “not as bad” as the groin injury he sustained in his first year as a Laker in a Christmas Day win over Golden State.
More NBA from me: marcstein.Substack.com1:06 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron James says he will get medical imaging on his left groin injury on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/S3yCKf42jH1:05 AM

Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
LeBron said he felt a little spasm or strain in his groin, but added it’s not as bad as the groin injury he suffered previously. pic.twitter.com/wlaAvDG8yM1:03 AM

Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
LeBron James said his groin doesn’t feel as bad as his groin injury vs Golden State in 2017 – 1:03 AM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron James says he landed on a play and felt a “spasm or strain” on his groin. He says he feels OK “besides the injury.” After @Mike Trudell asks for a comparison to his injury in 2018, he says it’s not as bad as that. – 1:03 AM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
LeBron says his injury is not as bad as the groin injury he suffered against Golden State on Christmas in 2018. – 1:03 AM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
LeBron James on how he feels: “I feel good, besides the injury.” He said “when I landed, I felt a little spasm.” – 1:02 AM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
LeBron on his leg: “How do I feel right now? I feel good besides the injury. I’ll get pictures on it tomorrow and then we’ll go from there.” – 1:02 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Darvin Ham said LeBron James will undergo further evaluation from the medical staff to determine specifics about the left leg discomfort that forced him out of the 4th Q of Wednesday night’s loss.
Ham said he doesn’t want to speculate until they get an official update. – 12:50 AM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
Darvin Ham said LeBron James has leg discomfort and he declined to elaborate much beyond that until the medical staff evaluates him and gives an update. – 12:50 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
Darvin Ham says the team won’t know the severity of LeBron James’ injury until he is seen by the Lakers doctors tomorrow. – 12:49 AM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Darvin Ham says LeBron James is experiencing leg discomfort and will be evaluated by the team’s medical staff soon. – 12:48 AM
Mirjam Swanson @MirjamSwanson
Darvin Ham on LeBron exiting with leg soreness — on top of everything: “It’s a lot of adversity and he’s been trying his heart out to be there for us.” – 12:48 AM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Lakers coach Darvin Ham said LeBron James has “leg soreness,” but will be evaluated further by doctors for more specifics. – 12:48 AM
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
LeBron James is “experiencing some leg discomfort,” Coach Darvin Ham says, with no further specifics available.
More NBA from me: marcstein.Substack.com12:48 AM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Radio Roulette is LIVE @UnderdogFantasy
– LeBron hurt, Lakers 2-9.
– Timberwolves free-falling
– The 2OT finish in OKC
– Kings hold off Donovan
– The “Mr. Invincible” Chase
– The New Twitter
Talking about it all + your calls!
📺 https://t.co/aC2CAI0PI0 pic.twitter.com/BeTKIQ4Vht12:41 AM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
The Lakers called LeBron’s injury “left leg soreness.” Semantically speaking, the groin is connected to the thigh, which is part of the leg. LeBron seemed to be indicating that his groin was bugging him. This is the end of my TED talk. AK – 12:34 AM
StatMuse @statmuse
Most 30-point games in a loss in the last 2 seasons:
21 — LeBron
20 — Shai pic.twitter.com/Fv81ijQFW912:26 AM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Final: Clippers 114, Lakers 101
The Lakers lose their fourth straight game to drop to 2-9. LeBron exited the game at the 5:41 mark with left leg soreness. He had 30 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Anthony Davis had 21 points and 9 rebounds.
Up next: vs. Sacramento on Friday. – 12:26 AM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
FINAL: Clippers 114, Lakers 101.
Ninth straight loss to the Clippers. The biggest development is a potential injury to LeBron James, who scored 30 points before limping off. Lakers are now 2-9. – 12:25 AM
Brad Turner @BA_Turner
LeBron James departed game in fourth quarter with left leg soreness. – 12:25 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
The Lakers lose 114-101, dropping their record to 2-9 on the season. It’s the ninth straight time they’ve lost to the Clippers. LeBron James, who scored 30, left the game midway through the fourth quarter with what the team is calling left leg soreness and did not return. – 12:24 AM
StatMuse @statmuse
LeBron has scored 30+ points 46 times in the last 3 seasons.
21 have come in wins
25 have come in losses pic.twitter.com/oZgEXF28Zm12:24 AM

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Lakers say LeBron has left leg soreness and will not return. – 12:23 AM
Adam Zagoria @AdamZagoria
The Lakers are about to be 2-9 and LeBron sustained a ‘left leg soreness’ injury per @Malika Andrews
Meantime the Pelicans would get the Lakers’ draft pick. pic.twitter.com/DF3obIjnFb12:22 AM

Malika Andrews @malika_andrews
As reported on our @espn broadcast: LeBron James has left leg soreness and will not return tonight, the team says. – 12:22 AM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LeBron James won’t return tonight due to left leg soreness. – 12:21 AM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron James left the court with 5:41 remaining in the 4th Q and headed to the back of the building, appearing to be affected by a groin injury. With 3:29 remaining in the game, he has yet to return to the bench area. Lakers trail 104-95. – 12:15 AM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
LeBron stepped off the court tenderly and looks like he’s going back through the tunnel. He was grabbing his groin area as if it was bothering him. – 12:09 AM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
LeBron misses two fourth quarter free throws.
Chick-Fil-A for all – 12:09 AM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
LeBron James with a season-high 4 3s – 12:00 AM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
How the hell did LeBron keep this pass inbounds? pic.twitter.com/32yWiGsm8d11:42 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
How the fuck did LeBron do that???? – 11:40 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Darvin Ham went into that timeout strenuously arguing for a foul call on that play that resulted in a PG block. Called out to Billy Kennedy, gesturing that he thought the Clippers were all over LeBron on the drive. – 11:32 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Darvin Ham calls timeout after Paul George stopped LeBron James on the break, setting up Zubac for his first bucket.
Ham went straight to Brian Forte, then found Billy Kennedy. It’s gonna be a long second half.
LAC up 61-52 with 10:17 left in third quarter. – 11:31 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Lakers coach Darvin Ham and LeBron James getting really frustrated that LeBron isn’t getting foul calls after repeatedly driving to the basket. – 11:30 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
Halftime: Clippers 54, Lakers 52
That was an impressive rally from the Lakers, outscoring the Clippers 31-16 in the frame. They had several chances to take the lead but couldn’t get over the hump. LeBron James has 16 pts. Anthony Davis has 11. Clips didn’t make a 3 in the 2nd. – 11:11 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL held the Clippers to 16 points in the 2nd Q, while scoring 31, to trim all but 2 points off a 17-point deficit.
It’s 54-52 LAC at the half.
LeBron’s 16 points and AD’s 11 lead the Lakers. – 11:10 PM
Melissa Rohlin @melissarohlin
The Lakers just came back from a 17-point deficit to tie the score at 48-48. After struggling with his shot recently, LeBron James is shooting 6-for-7 from the field, including making both of his 3s. – 11:06 PM
Tony Jones @Tjonesonthenba
Best half lebron has played this season by a country mile – 11:00 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
LAL chipped 5 points off LAC’s biggest lead of 17, resulting in a 46-34 deficit into a time out at the 7:18 mark on the 2nd Q.
LeBron has yet to miss from the field at 6 for 6 (2 of 2 from 3), towards 16 points. – 10:52 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
Look at how good LeBron looks after a night off. I genuinely didn’t think it was possible to be this bad with a player this good. – 10:50 PM
Dave McMenamin @mcten
LeBron James, who came into the game shooting 45 pct from the field and 21 pct from 3 – his lowest clips since his rookie season – has started tonight 5-for-5 overall (3-for-3 from 3). Clippers are in control though, up 46-30 a couple minutes into the 2nd Q – 10:48 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
It’s got to feel frustrating that the Lakers are getting blitzed early, down by 15 early in the second, when LeBron is finally playing well. He’s 5 for 5, 14 points, making some difficult jumpers that he’s been missing for a lot of this slow start. – 10:47 PM
Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
First quarter: Clippers 38, Lakers 21
A brutal start to the one for the Lakers. LeBron has 8 points. The Lakers are shooting just 36.4%. The Clippers have made six 3s. They also have seven steals. Paul George has 15 points. – 10:38 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
How many more games like this does it take for a Laker to name-drop Myles Turner and Buddy Hield at a press conference? Like if they’re 2-15 does LeBron do it? – 10:38 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Clippers went on runs of 10-0 and 7-0 interrupted only by LeBron James’ 2nd 3.
Mann is in for Zubac, Wall in at point guard.
Darvin Ham needs to talk about the LAC zone.
Clippers lead 23-13 with 4:04 left in 1st quarter. – 10:26 PM
Kyle Goon @kylegoon
Lakers stars can never seen to line things up. LeBron, after a cold patch, starts this one 3 for 3. Russ, in the midst of a heater as sixth man, starts 0 for 3 including two right at the rim. AD also hasn’t scored yet.
Clippers lead 23-13 with 4:04 left in the first half. – 10:25 PM
NBA Kicks @NBAKicks
LeBron goes with the Nike LeBron 2 “Maccabi” on the road in LA! #NBAKicks pic.twitter.com/qEnrLutu4g10:17 PM

Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
A welcome sign for LeBron and LAL, as he hits his first 3, having come into this game at 21.0% from distance in the first 9.
LAL lead 10-6 early. – 10:15 PM
Micah Adams @MicahAdams13
The NBA All-Stars right now if determined by Game Score.
WEST
Doncic, Curry, SGA, Jokic, Dame, Morant, AD, Booker, Fox, Towns, Markkanen (!!!), LeBron
EAST
Giannis, Tatum, Durant, Mitchell, Embiid, Siakam, Harden, Haliburton, Trae, Dejounte, Butler, Kyrie pic.twitter.com/Bve41q3gmm10:04 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Lakers-Clippers starters:
LAC
Paul George
Marcus Morris Sr.
Ivica Zubac
Luke Kennard
Reggie Jackson
LAL
Troy Brown Jr.
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
Austin Reaves
Patrick Beverley – 9:47 PM
Andrew Greif @AndrewGreif
Game 12 for the Clippers, and starters include, as Ty Lue said earlier, Luke Kennard:
LAC
PG
Morris Sr.
Zubac
Kennard
Reggie
LAL
Troy Brown Jr.
LeBron James
Anthony Davis
Austin Reaves
Patrick Beverley – 9:40 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Beverley, Reaves, Brown Jr., LeBron and AD will start for LAL tonight. – 9:31 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Anthony Davis and LeBron James will both play tonight, per the Lakers. – 9:26 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
As if there was any doubt, Anthony Davis (low back tightness) and LeBron James (left foot soreness) have been upgraded to AVAILABLE for tonight’s game at the Clippers. – 9:26 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
Clippers coach Ty Lue on LeBron eventually breaking Kareem’s record and why he thinks the Lakers will turn things around pic.twitter.com/RDfayTiOyi8:23 PM

Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Ty Lue said he hopes he can be in attendance when LeBron James breaks Kareem’s record. He says that’s how much LeBron means to him. – 8:22 PM
James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
Livers and Bogey are a combined 0-4 from the free-throw line. Might be time for the rare first-quarter LeBron gif. at this rate.
Pistons might be up if they just made three layups and got those four FTs to go.
One of those nights so far. – 8:10 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
Load Mismangement is live @Underdog__NBA w/@jphanned
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Here until the closing bell!
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NBA Kicks @NBAKicks
What’s your favorite cereal? 🥣
@LeBron James • #NBAKicks pic.twitter.com/kiTKH3kSaL5:54 PM

Kamenetzky Brothers @KamBrothers
For the sickos who like to watch, Wednesday’s @LockedOnLakers on YouTube. We discuss the potential ramifications of trading Anthony Davis, Russ’ increased(?) value and whether LeBron is still a no-brainer to build around. @LockedOnNBAPods @LockedOnNetwork
youtu.be/mZWc8Ma8TOk?t=…5:20 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
With the Lakers taking on the Clippers tonight, will LeBron James have over or under 41.5 combined points, rebounds, and assists?
(Odds via @FDSportsbook) – 4:59 PM

More on this storyline

The question often discussed in Lakers’ headquarters nowadays is whether they should go all-in expeditiously on revamping the roster around James and Anthony Davis, or are they better served to postpone wholesale changes until the end of the season? -via Bleacher Report / November 10, 2022