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When the 2023-2024 season kicks off, we will certainly get a better idea as to whether or not LeBron James will look to spend more years with the Los Angeles Lakers or if he'll instead began preparing for his inevitable retirement. Father Time has already started creeping up on him and he has plenty of family responsibilities including making sure that his oldest son, Bronny James, can live a healthy lifestyle.

However, LA has certainly begun taking the proper steps to ensure that even if James doesn't stick around for much longer, they will still have a competitive and complete roster. Instead of just aiming to sign and trade for experienced and older veterans, they instead traded for experienced guys on the younger side that have plenty of room to grow.

The likes of Jarred Vanderbilt and Rui Hachimura both have the potential to be two of the best wings in the NBA and Austin Reaves is barely entering his third season. Pair in the fact that superstar big man Anthony Davis recently inked a three-year extension with the franchise, they have their core set even without The King.

Therefore, ESPN's own Tim MacMahon believes that LA re-signing AD to this historic extension puts them in an excellent place when it comes to landing free agents even if James is no longer on the roster.

"What you've got now with AD and Reaves is," said MacMahon. "Regardless of LeBron, Austin Reaves still has a couple years left on his deal, AD is long-term, the Lakers are absolutely going to be able to remain relevant and remain attractive to free agents and anybody that wants to be traded."

(Via Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective)

We certainly do want to enjoy having James on the roster for as long as possible but AD, Reaves and the rest of the squad will hold it down when it is time.

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