Legacy team reportedly doesn't want LeBron James anymore
Remember all that talk about the Lakers having room for not one but two max-contract stars this summer?
LeBron James and Paul George were going to lead the purple and gold back to the promised land.
About that …
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Ramona Shelburne are reporting that “operation cap space” is going to have a bit of a delayed start.
Instead of trying to entice James, George, DeMarcus Cousins and Chris Paul, LA will focus on the summer of 2019, when stars like Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson and Jimmy Butler are due to hit the market.
“The concern that LeBron James ultimately would not go to LA alone, would need another star to join him, has made the Lakers now focus on the class of 2019,” Wojnarowski said.
The news comes as the Lakers are in the middle of a 10-4 stretch, their best since 2013 — and much of it has come without prized rookie Lonzo Ball.
Instead of going for the quick fix this summer, the team is focusing on a group of solid young players, led by Kyle Kuzma, Ball and Brandon Ingram.
The decision, however, is curious, as this year’s free agents-to-be are considered much stronger than next season’s.
There’s no indication that Thompson would consider leaving Golden State, where he’s won two championships. Butler and Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau are very close as well.
Perhaps the prize would be Leonard, who reportedly has been frustrated with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich this season as he’s battled injuries.
LA currently has the ninth-worst record in the NBA, and the team’s recent surge could help it keep its first-round pick in this summer’s NBA draft.
Boston gets the Lakers’ pick if it falls between second and fifth overall as part of a deal the Celtics made with Philadelphia last summer.
Of more pressing concern for Lakers president Magic Johnson and GM Rob Perlinka is Thursday’s trade deadline.
As part of the move to obtain cap space for this summer, it’s been widely assumed LA would be trading young players Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson.
Both players just completed the best month of their careers, so they may be staying at Staples Center. If the team keeps Randle, it’ll have to decide whether to sign him to a contract extension before next year.
We should be able to start reading the tea leaves Thursday. If Clarkston and Randle are still in LA, it could validate ESPN’s report about LeBron.
The clock is ticking …
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