Many of the biggest moves during the NBA offseason have already taken place. Kevin Durant being traded to the Houston Rockets was the blockbuster, but there’s still a major domino to fall. LeBron James‘ future with the Los Angeles Lakers remains up in the air. James envisioned finishing his career in LA, but that may no longer be the right path.
The reports that have come out over the past couple of weeks point to a rocky relationship between James and the Lakers front office. Now, we’re finding out that Luka Doncic may be a reason for it all. A recent report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne shed more light on James’ falling out with the Lakers front office, and Doncic is at the center of it all.
Los Angeles Lakers have put Luka Doncic higher on priority list than LeBron James through offseason moves
Four days following the end of the Lakers’ season, GM Rob Pelinka and head coach JJ Redick met for dinner with Doncic and his manager, with James nowhere in sight. That signaled that Doncic was the real face of the franchise, especially since James’ contract situation and future with the team was in question way more than Doncic’s.
That didn’t sit right with James, adding to what is considered a “series of microaggressions” on part of the Lakers since Doncic joined the team. Among those microaggressions were a lack of communication before trading away Anthony Davis, no extension being offered to James and not being given heads-up on the Buss family selling the team.
It’s become very clear that James and the Lakers are not on the same page. At 40 years old with only a couple of seasons left under his belt, James needs to go where he’s wanted and where he has the best chance to win. That doesn’t seem to be Los Angeles anymore.
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