Former NFL player Emmanuel Acho believes the 2024 NBA offseason has been disastrous for the Los Angeles Lakers, but incredible for LeBron James. On Speak, Acho stated that James’ priority is no longer winning championships.
“LeBron’s primary objective is no longer winning championships, it’s not winning championships,” Acho said. “Because if his primary objective was to win the championship, I don’t know that JJ Redick would be the head coach. If his primary objective was to win the championship I don’t know that he would be playing for the Lakers.
“If his primary objective was to win the championship, I don’t know that Bronny James would be on the team,” Acho continued. “… I think the Lakers and LeBron James have two different goals. LeBron’s primary goal was to play with his son. He did everything within his power to play with his son and he did and I’m happy for LeBron for doing that.”
.@EmmanuelAcho: LeBron's "primary objective" is no longer winning championships. pic.twitter.com/rTokFl5TyY
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) July 4, 2024
Acho claimed he is a LeBron fan and that the offseason was a wild success, as Redick became the head coach and Bronny was drafted by the Lakers. This was quite a controversial take.
I do believe James played a big role in those decisions, but I don’t necessarily think it indicates his priority isn’t to win a championship. The biggest indicator of that not being true, was LeBron reportedly being willing to take a $16 million pay cut if the Lakers were able to bring in an impact player.
James averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in the 2023-24 season and no one would criticize a player who put up those numbers for wanting the max. The 20-time All-Star was willing to take less if it meant the team was in a much better place to compete but it just didn’t work out.
Brian Windhorst Had A Different Angle On LeBron James And The Lakers Having Different Priorities
Acho isn’t the only one to feel that James and the Lakers have different priorities. NBA insider Brian Windhorst felt that way too, but from a different angle. Windhorst explained why he thinks LeBron and the Lakers have different priorities.
“Here’s the thing, not six months ago, not 16 days ago, like last week when they introduced JJ Redick as head coach, Rob Pelinka sat up there in front of everybody and said we are going to focus on development of young players,” Windhorst said. “We’re going to focus on our draft picks, we’re not going to trade our draft picks, that’s what he said.
“LeBron saying I’mma take a pay cut for a guy in his mid-30s is not doing that,” Windhorst continued. “What move have the Lakers made so far this offseason? They signed Max Christie to a $32 million deal, that’s a developmental player. That’s a guy who didn’t even play.
“That shows a plan to follow through with what they said, to keep the picks, to develop the players,” Windhorst added. “That is not with let’s trade a bunch of guys away and give extra picks to do it… The Lakers are trying to stick to a plan. It doesn’t seem like it equals what LeBron wants to do but they did draft Bronny and LeBron’s about to sign for $160 million.
“I think LeBron likes being a Laker and he’s going to stay being a Laker, but the Lakers and LeBron are not showing the same priorities right now,” Windhorst concluded.
I think it is becoming clearer that the two sides do not have the same priorities in this regard. The Lakers just don’t seem willing to go all-in, which is what the 39-year-old wants.
I can’t help but think that it’s why James signed a two-year, $104 million deal with a player option for the second year. If the Lakers don’t change their stance, I think he might leave next year.
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