After the Lakers’ surprising run to the 2023 Western Conference Finals, LeBron James thought about quitting basketball. What if they don’t do well in the playoffs next week?
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!If the Lakers don’t do good, people will look at LeBron. He has a choice for the 2024-25 season: stay for $51.4 million or leave.
Money might not be the reason LeBron chooses. The difference between getting a new deal in July (around $162 million) or in August (about $163.7 million) is not much.
If LeBron wants to stay for three more years, he might leave to have more say in the team. LeBron Might Want Changes
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Is LeBron happy with the Lakers’ team or coach? After they lost in 2021, he told them to get Russell Westbrook. When that didn’t work, he wanted Westbrook gone.
LeBron James wasn’t happy with head coach Darvin Ham earlier
Is LeBron, who is turning 40 soon, still important to the Lakers? Does he want to stay with the team as it is?
Some people think LeBron wasn’t happy with head coach Darvin Ham earlier. If the Lakers don’t do well this year, will LeBron make them choose between him and the coach?
The Lakers might want LeBron, but they might not want to pay him a lot because he’s getting older. But it seems like they won’t give up on him. They paid Kobe Bryant even when he was injured, and they kept Kareem Abdul-Jabbar until he was 42. They might think about the future after LeBron, but that’s not their main focus now.
LeBron might want the Lakers to pick his son, Bronny James, after he plays at USC for a year. He might also want them to trade for Trae Young instead of Donovan Mitchell. He might ask for a no-trade clause too.
The Lakers might have some power over LeBron. Not many teams can pay him $157.5 million over three years. Maybe the Philadelphia 76ers can, but most people think they want Paul George instead. If George stays with the Clippers, the 76ers might want LeBron.
Most people think LeBron doesn’t want to move to the East Coast, even if it means he can try to win with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Would the 76ers draft Bronny James to get LeBron?
“If someone were going to do it, it’d be Daryl,” one person said.
LeBron James, the Lakers might not be so nice to him
If the 76ers don’t try to get LeBron, the Lakers might not be so nice to him. But most people think the Lakers will give in. Lakers Have Expensive Players and Can’t Spend Much
LeBron’s option is for $51.4 million, but he might not get that much if he becomes a free agent. He could take less money to help the Lakers because they will have to pay a lot of tax next season.
D’Angelo Russell is also important. He can become a free agent or stay with the Lakers. He might want more money, but there might not be many teams who can pay him.
Some other players might leave too. If only one player stays, the Lakers will have to pay a lot of tax. And if the Pelicans take their draft pick, they will have even less money.
The Lakers can’t spend too much, but they might be able to get some good players in a trade. They want another star to play with Anthony Davis when LeBron is done. They might want Trae Young or Donovan Mitchell. They could also get a good player who is good at defense and scoring, but it might be hard to find one.
they might not be able to get a good replacement for LeBron James
We will have to wait and see what happens in the next few weeks. Maybe the Lakers will make some trades. If LeBron Leaves
If LeBron leaves, the Lakers will have less money to pay players. They might not have to pay as much tax, but they might not be able to get a good replacement for LeBron.
Can the Lakers do well with Davis, Hachimura, Russell, and Reaves? They might be able to change the team more if LeBron leaves, but they might not be good enough to win a championship.
The Lakers can try to get more players or make trades to avoid being bad. But they might be better off starting over with Davis and building a new team.
The Lakers will probably try to keep the team the same and hope LeBron stays healthy next season.
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