The 2023-2024 Los Angeles Lakers season has ended. The Lakers fell to the No. 2 seed Denver Nuggets in the first round of the NBA playoffs, 4-1, making it the second time they have been handily beaten by their Western Conference foes.
The purple and gold will now enter the biggest summer to date. Many things will be on the Lakers' brass plate, including the pending free agency of future Hall of Famer and four-time NBA champion LeBron James.
James will likely enter free agency for the fourth time in his career. Still, as he will enter his age 40 season, he is still highly coveted. Los Angeles will reportedly do all they can to bring him back in the purple and gold. The Athletic reported on the news following the Lakers' Game 5 loss to the Nuggets.
"As for his father, the Lakers want him back — badly — and the potential of the 39-year-old LeBron returning remains the most likely scenario. Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, in particular, believes James' return is of paramount importance to their plan. This franchise has always been buoyed by the stars, and James' ability to still play at an elite level at his advanced age has only strengthened the desire to have him retire in a purple-and-gold jersey one day. And after six seasons together in which there has been no shortage of ups and downs, Buss and James, team sources say, have a relationship that is better than ever these days."
"The Lakers, team sources say, would be open to discussing any deal that involves James coming back — including even the maximum three-year, $164 million extension they can offer. Playing through a three-year deal would put him at 42 by the end of the contract."
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, all signs point to James returning to L.A.
"James is expected to sign a new 2-3 year contract with the Lakers this summer," Wojnarowski said on Monday on ESPN. This is excellent news for the Lakers, should it prove to be true. The team's brass is known to take care of their stars for the better or worse. When James is right, even at 39 years old, he is still among the best players in the league.
On top of that, he and his fellow superstar teammate Anthony Davis have shown they are still among the best duos in the league. L.A. is all in on bringing back the four-time NBA MVP, even if that means adding his 19-year-old son and potential NBA draft pick, Bronny James, to the squad next season. The Athletic reported.
"What's more, team sources say the Lakers are very open to the prospect of helping LeBron fulfill his dream of playing with his son Bronny by potentially drafting him."
Bronny is coming off an underwhelming freshman season at USC, though he announced his plans to enter the transfer portal and the NBA Draft. He overcame cardiac arrest, which more than likely hampered his play this past season. Nonetheless, the Lakers have the best odds to draft Bronny in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft, especially if it means they can keep their star player in-house.
This Lakers team can look much different when the 2024-2025 season rolls around. For starters, the Lakers will likely have a new head coach, as Wojnarowski and others have reported that Ham's time in L.A. will come to an end.
A potentially new head coach, D'Angelo Russell may be gone, and the Lakers may trade for a third star. A lot can and will change this summer for the Lakers, but James in the purple and gold may remain until he decides to call it quits.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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