NBA Twitter was buzzing after the Los Angeles Lakers’ free agency moves were announced.
The team re-signed D’Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura, guaranteed Jarred Vanderbilt’s 2023-24 salary and signed Gabe Vincent, Taurean Prince, Cam Reddish and Jaxson Hayes.
The Lakers are expected to start Russell, Reaves, Hachimura, LeBron James and Anthony Davis next season. Even though LeBron hinted he might retire this offseason, the Lakers have been operating as if the NBA legend will be back next season, according to Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
“Though there has been no formal announcement yet, the Lakers continue to operate as if James will be back next season, despite him hinting at the possibility of retirement in a news conference following the Lakers’ season-ending Game 4 defeat to Denver in the West finals,” Buha wrote.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James, Anthony Davis & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
James signed a two-year extension with the Lakers last summer. He has a player option for the 2024-25 season. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists last season while shooting 50.0% from the floor, 32.1% from beyond the arc and 76.8% from the free-throw line.
LeBron then put up 24.5 points, 9.9 boards and 6.5 assists per game in the 2023 playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors and Nuggets. The 19-time All-Star turns 39 on December 30, 2023.
The Lakers got swept by the Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals. It will be very fascinating to see how many games they win next season and how far they go in the 2024 playoffs.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: LeBron James, Anthony Davis & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Back to James for a second, though. “The King” can become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2024 and sign with the team his son, Bronny, gets drafted by. It will be intriguing to see if that happens since no father has played with or against his son in the league.
LeBron told The Athletic’s Jason Lloyd in February 2022 that he would do anything to play with Bronny in the NBA. Bronny will play at USC in the fall.
“My last year will be played with my son,” LeBron said. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”
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