“So this is what it feels like,” surely you have thought LeBron James upon colliding again with the Denver Nuggets. What he did to others like them Toronto Raptors throughout his career, in the end he ended up passing it on to his Los Angeles Lakers and to him in these two seasons. Face a rival, bigger, stronger and better than you. And end any glimmer of hope after a resounding 4-1, often in a very cruel way when the Lakers were already close to victory.
Thus ended the 21st season in the NBA from LeBron James, another historic and unprecedented year in the league for someone his age. Only six players in history reached this number of seasons: LeBron, Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Robert Parish y Kevin Willis. Between the other five players they added 1,230 points. LeBron this season has reached 1,822 points.
If there is no major surprise, LeBron will arrive next season at the 22 years in the NBAequaling the record of Vince Carter. Given what has been seen so far, it could probably exceed that figure later. But, at this point, what motivations does LeBron have? What is going to happen to him now? In his press conference he did not clear up doubts or comment on the matter.
The Bronny James affair
There has been so much talk about LeBron’s future and his desire to play in the NBA with his son Bronnythat it will be inevitable that the analyzes about his future will first go through what happens with his first-born.
Bronny James, with the Trojans this season
Mark J. Terrill / LaPresse
A few weeks ago Bronny James and Klutch Sports announced that the player was signing up for the NCAA Transfer Portal and NBA Draft at the same time, which opens two possible paths. The Transfer Portal is a type of free agency in the university league, in which players sign up and receive offers from universities that are interested in them. Previously, if a player from one university went to another, he almost always had to spend a blank year, what they call a redshirt, but that is no longer the case. Bronny could decide to go to another university and be able to play next season. With the disaster that has been USC This year, it is almost impossible for it to do worse.
But he could also enter the NBA Draft. During these next few weeks he will have the opportunity to have private training with the franchises so that they can evaluate him and he can see if he is ready, or what he needs to improve on. This year it seems like he is a weak draft pick, which would increase his chances of being chosen, but most scouts seem to think that he is not ready to make the jump.
LeBron James and his son Bronny, during a USC game
AP Photo / Ashley Landis
“Bronny is one of the best-conditioned point guards of this generation, especially at an athletic and defensive level. Despite that, although this year we find ourselves in a theoretically weak Draft, I think you shouldn’t let yourself be seduced so soon.” says Bryan García of College Letter. “I understand the magnitude that it can mean to coincide with his father in the NBA, but personally I think it would be taking a wrong step this summer.”
“His season has been marked by weeks of inactivity with the heart problem and the lack of development in the USC program,” says Javier Molero of Draft Lab. “He is not ready to make the leap. He has to grow as a player, improve confidence in shooting and be more active in attack. “The logical decision would be to stay one more year.”
But if the NBA comes calling, and given the rumors that always link him to LeBron, there will be many teams that consider drafting him, he may want to take advantage of the opportunity. Bronny has two avenues open right now, and he has until June to decide which path he is going to follow. The Lakers, as The Athletic pointed out today, are open to choosing him in the 2024 Draft.
His contract and the situation of the Lakers
Before moving forward, the most important thing is that everything seems to indicate that LeBron wants to continue in Los Angeles. He is happy with his family there, with his Hollywood life and with his production company.. We cannot think that he is very happy with the sporting results of this season, but he also likes being part of the Lakers. It would be very surprising if we get to see LeBron in any jersey other than the purple and gold before he retires.
LeBron James celebrates a victory with the Lakers
Brandon Dill / Ap-LaPresse
That said, like his son Bronny, LeBron also has a couple of avenues open for this summer. He has one more year on his contract with the Lakers, but it is about a player option (worth 51.4 million dollars) that he will surely reject, making it possible that he will become a free agent. This option must be exercised at the latest by June 29, when the NBA Draft will have already been held, and we will all know what happened to Bronny. If his son is chosen in the Draft by another franchise other than the Lakers, LeBron would have the possibility of going to that other franchise as a free agent.
It doesn’t seem, however, that that’s the most likely thing. First because almost all experts still think that Bronny will return to the NCAA for one more year. Second, because LeBron will surely reject the player option and become a free agent, but he will do it with two other reasons in mind.
One of those reasons why it is convenient for you to be a free agent is to ensure a anti-transfer clause in a new contract with the Lakers. These clauses allow a player to veto any transfer in which his team involves him. They can only be had by players with at least 8 years of experience and 4 seasons in the same franchise, and they can only be included in new contracts, they cannot be added in contract extensions. right now alone Bradley Beal has this right of veto. As Brian Windhorst said a few months ago, LeBron wants that clause.
The other reason is put pressure on the Lakers so that they make changes to the template and continue trying to improve it. After being in the Conference Finals a year ago, the Lakers only made minor and insufficient moves. And if LeBron has always liked something and has been good at it, it is putting pressure on his franchises, whether by signing year-to-year contracts in Cleveland, making statements to journalists close to the trade deadline, dropping that he would like to return to the Cavaliers, talking about his possible retirement, etc.
The Lakers will have a few more tools to try to improve the team this summer. In principle they will be able to count on three first rounds and names like those of Dejounte Murray o Trae Young. The most likely thing is that we will see LeBron James again next season, year 22 in the NBA, in the Lakers with a renewed squad. But both LeBron James and Bronny have several paths open if they want to change their course.
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2024-04-30 13:00:00
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