NBA sources don’t believe Los Angeles Lakers superstar small forward LeBron James will retire this summer. Even though the four-time MVP told Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and Dave McMenamin of ESPN after the Lakers lost Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals to the Denver Nuggets that he might retire, people around the NBA believe LeBron is just pressuring the front office to get his old teammate, All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving.
“Other NBA sources suggested James was getting an early start on his leverage campaign on the Lakers’ front office, attempting to influence GM Rob Pelinka to chase free agent Kyrie Irving, who is still expected by many to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks,” Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report wrote. “Was it Machiavellian design, a man caught up in the moment’s emotion or an earnest possibility that James might retire?”
James wanted the Lakers to acquire Irving after the Duke product requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. However, the Dallas Mavericks traded for Irving, who becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Kyrie Irving & Dallas Mavericks Updates
LeBron and Irving were teammates for three seasons on the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-15 to 2016-17. They played in three straight NBA Finals and led the Cavaliers to the 2016 championship over the Golden State Warriors in seven games.
James, 38, has a torn tendon in his right foot. The four-time Finals MVP may need surgery this summer. However, NBA executives don’t expect The King to retire.
“He’ll suit up next year,” one Western Conference executive told Pincus. “He just changed the conversation. Now we’re not talking about a sweep; we’re talking about LeBron and retirement. He loves to control the narrative.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Kyrie Irving & Dallas Mavericks Updates
James signed a two-year extension with the Lakers last summer. He has a player option for the 2024-25 season. It will be fascinating to see if Los Angeles is able to get Irving in free agency and make LeBron happy.
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