LeBron James did not sign a new deal with the Lakers this season and instead simply opted-in to his player option for next season with his agent, Rich Paul, still claiming that he only wants to win a championship. If he really wanted to win a championship, he would have restructured his contract to free up cap space instead of sucking another $52.5M of salary for next season. But with Luka Dončić now the centerpiece of the team, the Lakers can move on from King James, and his son Bronny, at their leisure.
Doug Gottlieb: “You can say you’re appreciative of Jeannie (Buss) and Rob Pelinka; your actions are far different. Because if you’re really appreciative, why would you release a statement? If you really want to win a championship, why’d you release a statement? How it lands on me is poorly…This is LeBron James and Rich Paul pouting and trying to exert some sort of leverage that doesn’t actually exist.”