LeBron James Gets Real On The Lakers Missing All Major Free Agency Targets: “It Takes Two To Tango”

LeBron James didn't bite his tongue while discussing how the Lakers' failed to land any targets in free agency.

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Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James returned to the Lakers on a two-year contract extension, taking $3 million less than the max to make sure the Lakers don’t go above the second salary apron. James initially would’ve taken less money if the Lakers landed a player with salary space, but failed to do so by missing on multiple targets. LeBron reacted to the same while with Team USA, taking a positive tone to the situation.

“It takes two to tango,” LeBron told ESPN. “I think our front office, our coaching staff, they tried to do the job that they wanted to do or tried to get guys to come and it didn’t happen. And that’s OK. That’s part of the business. I’ve been in this business long enough to know that sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t.”

LeBron directly spoke about the Lakers missing out on Klay Thompson, DeMar DeRozan, and Jonas Valuncuinas. 

“So we don’t sit here and lie about or cry about it. We move on and Klay’s a great player. Obviously DeMar’s a great player. Valanciunas was one of those guys who ended up going to Washington, was someone that was in talks with us, but we move on to see how we continue to get better… I’m looking forward to this fall when I get back out there.”

The biggest offseason acquisition for the Lakers so far is rookie Dalton Knecht, who they picked with the No. 17 pick in the NBA Draft. The most talked about acquisition is Bronny James, another Draft selection. The team hasn’t landed any new players in free agency, looking likely to run their roster back under new head coach JJ Redick.


The Lakers Have Been Turned Down By Major Free Agents

The Lakers have had a complete inability to land major talent this summer, being intentionally overlooked by various targets due to a perceived poor fit on the Lakers.

Everyone has heard about how shooters love playing with LeBron James, but two of the best shooters in NBA history were on the market this summer and both chose to go elsewhere. Klay Thompson chose to sign with the Mavericks by taking less money and one less guaranteed contract year than what the Lakers had offered. Buddy Hield also signed with the Warriors after heavy interest from the Lakers.

Jonas Valuncuinas was among the first signings of free agency, taking a three-year, $30 million deal to sign with the Washington Wizards. It’s unclear what salary the Lakers offered the center, but we can assume it wasn’t the same as the Wizards. If it was the same and Jonas still chose Washington instead, that’s a personal problem that the Lakers cannot rectify.

With DeMar DeRozan heading to the Sacramento Kings, impactful free-agency signings for the Lakers are non-existent now. Hopefully, JJ Redick can extract more from the roster than what we saw Darvin Ham do last season. If Redick can’t, he might find himself dealing with the brunt of the blame despite the front office completely failing at their jobs this summer.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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