Well that was a waste of time.
After a rumor-fueled summer thus far, LeBron James is apparently shutting down any trade or buyout talk, at least for the near future: according to The Athletic's Dan Woike and Joe Vardon, sources from both the Los Angeles Lakers and James are expecting him to report to training camp come October.
This quiets a long saga that started with a quote given by LeBron's agent Rich Paul to ESPN's Shams Charania last month:
"LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all...We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what's best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what's best for him."
With James picking up the over $50 million player option on what is the last year of his current deal, most fans paired his contract year with this quote to link James to multiple teams that they saw as more ready to win now. A second homecoming to the Cavaliers was a distinct possibility, as was a teamup with Steph Curry. Maybe Knicks fans would get him like they always dreamed, or he'd pull off the ironic move of the century by going to Dallas and reunite with both AD and Kyrie Irving.
But no -- at least for now, LeBron is in the purple and gold to stay.
And why can't the Lakers build around Luka and still be championship contenders?
Many called the LeBron exodus based on Rich Paul's quote, particularly regarding where the Lakers were as an organization. LeBron is ready to win now, whereas LA was clearly (and rightly) ready to move on to building around Luka. LeBron's expensive, and if Luka was to get a marquee star in their prime next to him next season like most think he wants, the Lakers simply. can't afford to keep #23 on for another $50 million.
But for this season, the point is absolutely moot. Even without AD, the LeBron/Luka Lakers of late last year were still considered contenders, at least in part. NBA.com power ranked them at four as of late February. And while power rankings don't mean much in the grand scheme of things, nothing has changed in recent memory to really stain their reputation. The clarion call was simple for this coming season: shore up your bigs.
And for all the talk of LA's big hole in the middle of both their defense and offense, Deandre Ayton is a very underrated pickup. No, he hasn't lived to his No. 1 pick status (and likely never will), but Ayton remains a nightly double-double threat that can only really improve on the Lakers. Luka will undoubtedly make him look incredible, and LeBron is as good a molder of young minds as anyone in the NBA. And that's without getting into another year of development from Jaxson Hayes and the return of Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt in full force.
As for LeBron and Luka's relationship, the only element scaring pundits is that if the Lakers are to reach their full potential this year, LeBron is likely going to have to take a back seat for the first time in his career. And as far as we know, there have been no indications as to any friction between him and Luka. Last season, James was all about Doncic not worrying about fitting in, and he and his agent are clearly more than aware that the Lakers are to be Luka's team. Especially with Luka getting into super soldier shape for the upcoming season.
Yes, the Lakers are building around Luka Dončić. LeBron finally has a primary ball handler he can trust. Their bigs are squared away. Quote or not, to think that LeBron was going anywhere was absolutely stupid.
Because no team with the GOAT and the NBA's best point guard will ever be going for anything other than the top of the mountain.