As the Los Angeles Lakers ponder the future of their disgruntled point guard, they are angling to get LeBron James to sign an extension that will keep him in town beyond next summer.
According to reports, talks first started yesterday, and the situation was described as “progressive.’ Now, it seems like things are still headed in that direction if we are to believe the latest update from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“All signs point toward both sides looking to extend their partnership together,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said. “It’s already led to one championship in 2020. It’s also led to two playoff appearances where they didn’t make it, but overall I think both sides recognize that they can help one another get to their mutual goal, which is to compete at a high level and stay relevant as both one of the best players in the NBA and one of the most marquee franchises in the NBA.”
Locking up LeBron for another year or two would be bliss for the Lakers. Despite their struggles, LeBron is still good enough to give them a chance to win, and securing him an extension guarantees more years of relevance.
But the Purple and Gold will need to do more if they want to become true title contenders. Whether it’s trading for Kyrie Irving or acquiring a shooter like Buddy Hield, there are a number of ways Rob Pelinka can make his team better.
Regardless, it is pretty clear that James remains the Lakers’ top priority, and it will be interesting to see how everything plays out and how long James decides to sign for. As it stands, he can become a free agent as early as next summer.
