Lakers News: Insider Speculates LeBron James Using Retirement Talk To Pressure LA
Upon being eliminated from the Western Conference Finals on Monday, Los Angeles Lakers All-NBA small forward LeBron James rocked the basketball world by hinting that he would genuinely consider retirement this summer.
Sources close to James inform Sam Amick of The Athletic that they're dubious the 19-time All-Star will actually hang up his sneakers just yet, and instead consider his statement perhaps more a reaction following ex-Laker and fellow 2003 draftee Carmelo Anthony's official decision to retire earlier that day.
“I don’t like to say it’s a successful year because I don’t play for anything besides winning championships at this point in my career," James reflected in his postgame presser, per Amick. "You know, I don’t get a kick out of making a Conference [Finals] appearance. I’ve done it — a lot. And it’s not fun to me to not be able to be a part of getting to the Finals. But we’ll see. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens going forward. I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about to be honest.”
A "source with knowledge of the Lakers plans" informed Amick that LA's front office will hold on to restricted free agents Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura this summer. If Los Angeles actually does that, the team would essentially be punting on the opportunity to sign unrestricted free agent All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving to a substantial-enough amount in the offseason.
Thus, Amick wonders if James is effectively opting to have the threat of retirement hang over the Lakers front office as it makes it personnel moves this summer. Irving and another All-Star-caliber point guard, Trae Young (he was selected to an All-Star team in 2022), were both seated courtside at what wound up being the Lakers' final game of the playoffs. Does James want either of these players to replace incumbent starter D'Angelo Russell? Time will tell.
Young would need to be acquired via trade, while Russell and Irving are both unrestricted free agents.
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