Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul stirred speculation about his client LeBron James‘ future with the Los Angeles Lakers with some interesting comments. Paul hinted that James could ask out, and Kendrick Perkins stated on Perk Unplugged that this was an indicator that they are losing power within the Lakers organization.
“The Los Angeles Lakers, you got so much going on,” Perkins said. “You got all this happening. Bron, Rich Paul putting out a statement that I felt like it really served no purpose but to ruffle the feathers, and you know why he wants to ruffle the feathers? You wanna know why?
“‘Cause it’s a new sheriff in town, or should I say sheriffs, plural in town in LA,” Perkins stated. “Yes, they have a new owner… I know they have the reports that Jeanie Buss is still going to be [the governor], I don’t believe that. You ain’t paying $10 billion without calling shots, okay? And when I say new sheriffs, it’s not just because of the owner.
“It’s because the focal point, you franchise guy, now is Luka Doncic,” Perkins continued. “An international superstar. It’s not a 40-year-old LeBron James. It’s not Rich Paul with Klutch Sports no more. No, it’s Luka and it’s WME, Bill Duffy.
“I said this on air two, three days ago,” Perkins added. “I said Deandre Ayton gonna sign with the Lakers, because you know who Deandre Ayton represented by? WME. So, if you don’t think that Luka is having a say in what’s going on with the Lakers front office right now, you crazy as hell. But rightfully so. They need him. They want him to resign that contract.”
The Lakers didn’t always make moves with James’ best interests in mind in his first six and a half seasons with the franchise. Still, they did look to appease him as he was their biggest star, but that’s no longer the case now.
The Lakers acquired Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in February, and he has displaced James as their most important player. Doncic is the present as well as the future for the franchise, and every move they make now will be with his happiness in mind. That’s especially the case with the guard having the option, as of now, of becoming a free agent in 2026.
Doncic is eligible, though, to sign a four-year, $228 million extension with the Lakers on Aug. 2. While he has always been expected to sign that deal, the front office isn’t going to take the risk of upsetting him in any way before he puts pen to paper.
Perkins believes the Lakers signed Deandre Ayton to appease Doncic, as they are both represented by Bill Duffy. It’s unclear, though, if that is truly the case. The Lakers needed a center, and Ayton just so happened to be the best one on the market. You’d think he would have been the top target even if he wasn’t represented by Duffy.
While Perkins’ claim regarding Ayton may or may not be accurate, it’s safe to say that James and Paul’s influence over the Lakers has diminished. NBA insider Brian Windhorst stated that LeBron and the Lakers are drifting apart and pointed to Doncic’s arrival as the moment when it all began.
It still appears likely that James will remain a Laker in 2025-26, but he might decide to finally part ways with the team next offseason.
