The Los Angeles Lakers aren’t a bad or mediocre basketball team at all. But they also definitely aren’t a championship-caliber team, and with the NBA draft approaching, there is the possibility they will pull off a groundbreaking trade to get to that level very soon.
Even at age 39, LeBron James has continued to play at a very high level, and he became the oldest player to ever be named to an All-NBA team this season. However, his critics have claimed that at this point in his career, he only cares about padding his stats and pursuing his off-the-court interests.
Yet an article in The Athletic revealed that both James and Anthony Davis want badly for the Lakers to get them a third star or major difference-maker.
Via The Athletic:
“But as the NBA Draft nears on Wednesday, when the Lakers will finally be able to canvass the league for significant roster upgrades because of the three first-round picks at their disposal, the truth about their situation is that the latest coaching change is the least of their problems,” wrote Sam Amick. “They need more high-level talent, and they need it fast if they’re going to keep LeBron James and Anthony Davis from growing frustrated about this uncertain Lakers future ahead.
“James has the leverage that comes with his forthcoming free agency, as he has until Saturday to decide whether to pick up his $51.4 million player option or opt out and sign a new deal (with the Lakers or elsewhere). Davis, meanwhile, has the organizational capital that comes with being a 31-year-old, nine-time All-Star who is signed through the 2027-28 season. And if the franchise cornerstones had their way, league sources say, the Lakers would prove their desire to win this week by going all-in for another elite player.”
Furthermore, sources say James wants to win big as his career wanes.
“As Lakers owner Jeanie Buss has always said about this partnership, James’ happiness is the key to it all. Yet while some have surmised that James might be content coasting in these final Lakers years, enjoying all the benefits of living in Los Angeles while continuing to make his incredible mark on the league’s history books, league sources say he desperately wants to win at the highest of levels again. What’s more, James’ unprecedented play at this stage means he remains open to the prospect of playing two, or even three, more seasons before retiring.”
James is days away from the deadline to decide whether he will opt out of his contract. Most expect him to opt out and then sign a new contract to remain with the Lakers.