SUMMARY
- LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers just crashed out of the playoffs once again.
- The 4x NBA champion's future is in doubt, and Rob Pelinka could possibly have to make some major changes to the roster.
LeBron James has crashed out of the NBA playoffs for the second year in a row after losing to the Denver Nuggets. The 4x champ has been looking to add one more ring to his resume but it looks like it may not be possible with the Lakers. He has been committed to rebuilding projects in the past, but time is not on his side this time around.
At 39 years old, the legend would have to be on a team that is already ready to contend for the title. The roster can’t rely on LeBron to call the plays and make them. That certainly has been the case with the Lakers in the last few years. Since they won the championship in 2020, the Lakers haven’t gone to the NBA Finals. They got swept by the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals in 2020 and were eliminated in round one this year.
In all of these games, LeBron has been truly phenomenal, but the other players around him and Anthony Davis have failed to step up on the big stage. Time is running out for the Lakers, and they need to make quick moves in the market if they want to keep LeBron.
Lakers could be interested in acquiring Trae Young
Atlanta Hawks superstar Trae Young is one of the best point guards in the NBA. He is an elite shooter from beyond the three-point line, and a decent playmaker as well. In 54 games, Trae averaged 25.7 points and 10.8 assists, along with 2.8 rebounds. These are impressive numbers for a PG playing for a fairly inconsistent team like the Hawks.
BREAKING: Lakers are heavily targeting Hawks guard Trae Young, via @TheAthletic.
“The Lakers are expected to be aggressive in the market, with Atlanta’s Trae Young one of the more intriguing names out there. The Lakers’ room could be split on him as they try to make the most of… pic.twitter.com/oQ9CCoPXCy
— 🎗NBA•Fan🎗 (@Klutch_23) April 30, 2024
The Lakers’ current PG, D’Angelo Russell, averaged 18 points and 6.3 assists. DLo could leave the Lakers this year, and that opens up a door for Trae. The player has been looking for an opportunity to play on a team that fights for titles, and the Lakers are his best option.
After the loss to the Nuggets, it has been reported that Trae’s name might be brought up in conversations that are being held by the Lakers board. As mentioned earlier, the franchise will be looking to bring in a point guard, and Trae could be a great option for them.
Lakers could reportedly draft Bronny James to keep LeBron James happy
LeBron has not made it a secret that his dream would be to play on the same team as his son. That dream could be a reality, as per recent reports. NBA insiders claim that the Lakers are willing to draft Bronny to keep him happy. This seems like they’re willing to do what it takes to keep LeBron at the franchise.
The Lakers are open to drafting Bronny James this June to help fulfill LeBron James’ dream of playing with his son, team sources tell @shamscharania, @sam_amick and @jovanbuha.
Bronny announced earlier this month that he will enter the 2024 NBA Draft.
🔗https://t.co/cDZimJNOUx pic.twitter.com/IeUxoXm0qO
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 30, 2024
Building the team, and drafting Bronny could be the two conditions that LeBron has to stay in LA. It’s quite unlikely that he stays with the franchise if the team is not ready to fight for the title, and if he has to play against his son. Jeanie Buss and Rob Pelinka will have some work to do in the summer, and it will eventually pay off.
LeBron is undoubtedly the biggest star now, and keeping him is beneficial to the Lakers too. The merchandise he sells and the viewership numbers he attracts are all signs that the Lakers should try and keep him until he decides to bid goodbye to the league.