Lakers Miss Out on Free Agent Center Because of LeBron Drama: Report

On June 29, Paul came out with a cryptic statement to ESPN that hints at disalignment between James and the Lakers.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.

James will be 41 next season.

“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.”

Preparing for Post-LeBron Era

With James’ future in Los Angeles in limbo, Lopez decided to join the Clippers on a two-year, $18 million deal to serve as Ivica Zubac‘s backup.

Meanwhile, James’ veiled threat to the Lakers did not work.

The Lakers stuck to their plan of offering short deals in what ESPN’s Dave McMenamin described as a plan to create as much cap room to add another max player next to Luka Doncic in what is expected to be a post-LeBron era in 2027. They only offered a two-year deal to Dorian Finney-Smith, who bolted the Lakers to sign with the Houston Rockets for a four-year, $53 million contract.

The Lakers pivoted from the tried and tested veteran Finney-Smith to unproven yet promising 3-and-D wing Jake LaRavia. The 23-year-old wing signed a two-year, $12 million deal, which is a bargain compared to what Finney-Smith received from the Rockets.

Lopez spurning the Lakers turned out to be a blessing in disguise as they got a younger, more athletic center to address their biggest weakness.

Former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, who was a surprise addition to the free agent market after seeking a buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers, signed with the Lakers for the same deal Lopez got from the Clippers.

Ayton and Doncic are both under Bill Duffy, the head of the basketball division of WME Sports, which is another clear signal of the shift of power within the Lakers organization.

Crack in LeBron-Lakers Relationship

Whether the Lakers’ moves are enough for James to consider the Lakers as a championship contender is still to be determined.

But according to Lakers beat reporter Jovan Buha, James’ relationship with the franchise that he led to the 2020 NBA championship is not in the best place.

“I want to be careful with what I say about Bron’s relationship with the front office or the organization, but I don’t think it’s in the best place right now, to be completely honest,” Buha said on his podcast, “Buha’s Block” on July 7. “As you know, there’s been no official statement about LeBron opting in. There typically is, especially for a player of that magnitude. And then he’s had his stuff on social media or whatever he’s posted, and there was obviously the statement when he opted in. So, I don’t think things are in the best place they’ve ever been. I’ll just say that. Make of that what you want.”