In the aftermath of the 2024 NBA Draft, LeBron James is putting pressure on his team to make a move before it’s too late. According to NBA insider Chris Haynes, the King is giving the Lakers one more week to make some moves before he demands the max.
“LeBron is giving FO a week,” said Haynes. “The Lakers have had exploratory talks with Portland on Grant. I project they will make a significant move.”
The Lakers had big plans this summer to surround LeBron and Davis with significant upgrades to the supporting cast. In the draft, picking youngsters like Dalton Knecht and Bronny James was supposed to be a warm-up for free agency, where the Lakers had their sights on a big-name star.
Namely, the Lakers wanted to make a run for 4x champion Klay Thompson, whose championship experience and perimeter shooting would have made a great pairing next to the star duo. The Lakers tried everything to secure him on a long-term deal but he was swayed by the Mavericks, who just signed him on a three-year, $50 million deal.
The Lakers could have also tried a run at Paul George, but it’s too late for that now after he agreed to terms on a contract with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Lakers have struck out multiple times already this post-season and LeBron James is waiting to see what happens next before he makes a decision on his own contract.
James, 39, had a $51 million player option which he declined to become a free agent. After averaging 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game on 54% shooting last season it’s clear that James is still an elite-level player who is worthy of the max.
After 21 seasons, however, LeBron isn’t what he used to be and the Lakers need all the help they can get to make up for his gradual decline. If he can take a pay cut, it will allow the Lakers to add an additional piece to the roster that could change everything about their stance in the West.
Unfortunately for the Lakers, however, James taking a pay cut is entirely conditional. As it’s been revealed already, the 4x champion will only take less than the max if the Lakers can add an established role player to the roster. They have a week to get it done, or LeBron will just take as much money as he can in order to play with his son.
While the Lakers have yet to make a significant move so far, there’s still time for them to pull something off before it’s all said and done. With names like Jerami Grant and DeMar DeRozan reportedly available to the highest bidder, it’s likely only a matter of time before they make the big acquisition everyone’s been waiting for.
If they don’t manage to do anything, things could get tense behind the scenes as GM Rob Pelinka feels more and more pressure to make upgrades across the roster. Clearly, LeBron wants to win now at all costs and he’s doing his part to give the Lakers a chance to make a major addition.
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