One of the biggest questions the Lakers have to answer this summer is around the future of LeBron James. James holds all the cards at the moment as he has a $52.6 million player option he can exercise this summer.
Whether or not James exercises that option, Michael Rapaport believes the Lakers need to plan their exit strategy from the LeBron James era. He believes LeBron James’ duo with Doncic was not as impressive as it should have been. He appeared on Skip Bayless’ latest podcast episode and expressed his opinion on the sad truth about the Lakers’ superstar.
“I think it worked in bits, obviously it didn’t work enough. I think that LeBron — I think it’s time to move on. I feel like he sucks the joy out of that team. I feel like it would be in their best interest, unless they’re able to, really get some other pieces to let him go or to move on from him. Obviously, there were points this season where he was there were some stretches where he was a top-five player, and there were other stretches where he was top-10 player. But you know, for any one person in today’s NBA to be able to carry a team is insane”, he said.
Then Rapaport went on to analyze their performance in the postseason, and he said, “I feel like physically they’re different, but they’re both very similar. They need the ball in their hand to be most effective. I think Luka definitely needs it more than LeBron needs it at this point in his career, but I mean, they looked bad in the playoffs. I think JJ’s inexperience or hard-headedness got in the way of you know what he did I think some of it was inexperience and some of it was you know hard-headedness. That being said, they lost to a better team. They have pieces, they can move people around, and you know it’s the Lakers, they’re going to do something, because it’s the greatest show on earth, or it’s supposed to be the greatest show on earth. And whether you hate them or not, you know it’s we’re talking about them and they’re in Cancun somewhere.”
What’s Next For LeBron James And The Lakers?
A few days ago, Lakers GM Rob Pelinka announced the Lakers’ intentions to build their roster around Luka Doncic. James’ decision will also affect the Lakers’ financial flexibility to make a big move. James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds in 70 games played this season. At age 40, James is still playing like a top-10 player in the league is truly remarkable. But the question remains, for how long will he be able to sustain it?
To get a major foundational piece to go with Doncic, say in a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo or an experienced free agent, the Lakers will require the financial flexibility, for which LeBron will have to make a sacrifice in his upcoming extension option.
Rumors suggested that LeBron had no intention of taking a pay cut. And he was urged to play a key role in convincing a player like Giannis Antetokounmpo to make the move to LA. In a situation where James holds all the cards, it is tough to imagine that the Lakers have not already contemplated a way out of this LeBron James saga. Whether he retires in LA or finally gets traded for the first time in his career, either way, we may be near the end of the LeBron James era in LA.
