The Lakers were swept in the Western Conference Finals, and now there’s nothing left to do but sit and watch as the NBA playoffs continue without them. If you ask most Lakers fans, they’ll tell you that this season was a success overall given how they started. Even still, the team ultimately fell short of a title and it has left many wondering what’s next for the franchise.
When it comes to stars, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are among the best in the game but their partnership may not last much longer with James on the edge of retirement. Speaking to the media on this subject, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka detailed his offseason plans and what fans should expect from the team moving forward
“Three of those four years, Western Conference Finals one year, a championship one year. I think that’s frankly where we’re supposed to be. So I’m not up here pounding our chest and feeling proud about it. That’s where the Lakers are supposed to be. And as Darvin said our job is to continue to build into that and again, want to respect LeBron’s time and space to process what he needs to process,” Pelinka said, via Lakers Nation. “But LeBron and AD as two pillars is, you know, to us an unmatched combination that will continue to lean into and build around and both incredibly high character players that want to win, play the game the right way. We’re proud of that combination of superstars and want to continue to invest in that and invest in advancing the growth we had this year into next season.”
The Lakers could be at a major turning point. Whether or not their stars come back, they will have some major questions to answer this offseason and they will have to decide which players they want to keep around for the long haul.
As for LeBron, only he knows which way he’s leaning but a retirement could send the Lakers back into the dark ages.
Will LeBron Retire This Summer?
As the Nuggets were celebrating winning the West, the narrative in the media was all about LeBron and the comments he made after Game 4. He pretty much confirmed then that he may not return next season, but it remains to be seen if he’ll follow through on that option.
“I mean, that’s LeBron’s decision,” George said per Joey Mistretta of ClutchPoints. “He’s given us 20 amazing years, it’s crazy that we’re still baffled that he’s thinking about retirement with all he’s done and all he’s given this game. I think… at some point, I think that’s what he’s holding onto… I hope he can…he may have just taken time off to re-gather, regroup and come back when it’s time to play with his son.”
The last I heard, LeBron was dead set on playing with his son, who will become draft-eligible next year. Unless he has abandoned that pursuit, one has to think we’ll see LeBron suit up for at least one more season.
Where that leaves the Lakers is still unclear, but they are willing to wait as long as necessary for James to make up his mind.
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