Los Angeles Lakers

It's been an intriguing offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers, to say the least. The franchise hired a new head coach in Darvin Ham, is awaiting a decision from LeBron James about his future—he can sign an extension as early as today—and has been at the center of Kyrie Irving trade rumors.

Los Angeles also still has Russell Westbrook on its roster after last year's high-profile acquisition flopped in 2021-22.

With the offseason beginning to wind down—the preseason kicks off in early October—the Lakers still don't know if acquiring Irving from the Brooklyn Nets is realistic. Making the move would require moving Westbrook and his $47 million salary and would most likely require a third team to get involved.

Los Angeles may have to wait for Brooklyn to decide Kevin Durant's future before it pivots to Irving. Durant requested a trade at the onset of the offseason, but no deal has materialized yet.

There's also the matter of trade compensation. According to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, Brooklyn wants two first-round picks, which L.A. isn't willing to surrender just yet. This only adds to the reality that an Irving trade isn't happening soon.

"The Lakers haven't been willing to give up more than one in any trade negotiations," Buha wrote. "I think that will change for the right deal, such as an Irving trade. But the Lakers aren't going to budge, if they even do, until they feel like they must. They're not at that point yet."

The Lakers have also been linked to Buddy Hield and Myles Turner of the Indiana Pacers, but again, the likely cost of two first-round picks seems to be a holdup.

"I think the Lakers would acquire Hield and Turner if the asking price was only one future first-round pick," Buha wrote.

If a favorable trade materializes, great. For now, though, it's time for the Lakers to put Irving on the back burner and focus on the current roster and the coming season. Yes, that includes Westbrook.

There's no way to sugarcoat the fact that Westbrook was a disappointment last season. He averaged 18.5 points—his lowest since the 2009-10 season—while shooting just 29.8 percent from three-point range and serving as a defensive liability.

To be fair, though, that was under former head coach Frank Vogel and with one of the most underwhelming supporting casts in the league. The Lakers also dealt with significant injuries to James and Anthony Davis, which did not help matters.

With James and/or Davis out of most games, Westbrook was forced to serve as a centerpiece. With a poor group of support players, the results were less than desirable. Things could be much different under Ham, especially if James and Davis can stay healthy for the bulk of the campaign.

At least some in the Lakers organization are eager to see what Ham can get out of Westbrook this season.

"From what I’ve heard, elements within the Lakers that really want to give Darvin Ham a shot at (using Westbrook)," Heavy Sports NBA insider Steve Bulpett said, per Heavy's Sean Deveney. "He's a different kind of dude. He is not going to put up with the weirdness we have seen in L.A., with that organization. He is the kind of guy who will get through to players."

Westbrook and Vogel clashed, that much is now obvious. Westbrook has indicated as much.

"I think it's unfortunate, to be honest, because I've never had an issue with any of my coaches before," Westbrook said in April, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "I'm not sure what his issue was with me or I'm not sure why, but I can't really give you an answer to why we really never connected."

Ham may be able to convince Westbrook to play his role where Vogel could not—and that role may not be as a starter.

"Lakers head coach Darvin Ham will have more power to bench Westbrook down the stretch of games, according to league sources," Buha wrote. "That could eventually extend to removing Westbrook from the starting lineup as well."

Theoretically, Ham may get more out of Westbrook by using him less. Instead of regularly being on the floor with James and Davis, he could sub one of the two and/or become the centerpiece of the second-team lineup.

Instead of having Westbrook as the third option, Ham could turn to a player like Austin Reaves. As a support player, Westbrook's poor defense and questionable shot selection would be much less of an issue.

This change of usage for Westbrook—along with having James and Davis available, of course—could be enough to make Los Angeles competitive this season.

The supporting cast still isn't great. The Lakers added the likes of Juan Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones and Lonnie Walker IV in free agency and have yet to bring in another star. However, the group appears better equipped to play solid complementary basketball than last year's lineup. Last year's group felt much more like a mashup of whoever L.A. could afford to sign.

As a sixth man, Westbrook could provide enough of a tempo change to create problems for the opposition.

This doesn't mean that the Lakers can be a title contender with the current lineup. Teams like the Golden State Warriors and the Phoenix Suns will still be favored in the postseason. However, Los Angeles could be a tough out in a seven-game series.

This group could get to the playoffs and out of the coming season with a sense of respectability. From there, the Lakers could move on from Westbrook and perhaps have another shot at Irving.

"Considering the lack of current league-wide interest in acquiring him via trade, it seems like the Lakers are his most likely free-agent option next summer, other than the Nets," Buha wrote of Irving.

Los Angeles' 2023 offseason approach will hinge on James' looming decision. With Westbrook's salary off the books, the Lakers could potentially build an even more competitive roster. If James bolts for a different team, though, L.A. could be eying a complete overhaul.

"If James were to agree to an extension, the Lakers could be more aggressive in trade discussions for players with multiple years remaining on their contracts," Yahoo Sports' Dan Woike wrote. "If James passes on a long-term deal, the team, at a minimum, has a relatively clean cap sheet."

That's an issue for Ham, general manager Rob Pelinka and the Lakers to worry about later. So, too, is the prospect of a blockbuster trade because one isn't coming down the pike in the immediate future.

For now, it's time for the Lakers to move ahead with what they have.

Former NBA forward Jalen Rose is confident LeBron James will sign a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers for reasons beyond basketball.

Rose explained his view of James' situation Wednesday on ESPN's NBA Today (3:15 mark of video).

"They know he ain't leaving now. So it don't even matter what happens with the contract. They know they got the house out here, the wife out here, they know the kids out here," Rose said. "We always think about it as LeBron James the superstar, not always LeBron James the father, the dad, the human being. I don't think he's gonna necessarily wanna uproot his family to go play somewhere else."

LeBron is entering the final season of his current contract, and he's now eligible to sign a two-year extension worth around $97 million, per Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times.

While James and his family have established roots in L.A. since he signed with the Lakers in 2018, and he's made inroads in Hollywood along the way, the 37-year-old four-time NBA MVP hasn't talked like the franchise is a lock as his final basketball destination.

In February, the 18-time All-Star told Jason Lloyd of The Athletic he was open to a third stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

"The door's not closed on that," James said. "I'm not saying I'm coming back and playing, I don't know. I don't know what my future holds. I don't even know when I'm free."

He also confirmed to Lloyd an expectation he'll finish his NBA career alongside his oldest son, Bronny James, who's first eligible for the NBA draft in 2024.

"My last year will be played with my son," James 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."

Meanwhile, the four-time NBA champion named the Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry as the active player he'd most like to team up with when asked on HBO's The Shop in April.

The Lakers' offseason has also been a bit underwhelming as they've been unable to complete any blockbuster moves coming off a playoff-less 33-49 campaign.

An inability to find a trade partner for point guard Russell Westbrook has hampered the front office's efforts to reshape the roster around James and Anthony Davis.

None of that is to say LeBron won't re-sign with the Lakers for two more years. That would give him time to receive more clarity on Bronny's NBA outlook without having to move the family next summer.

Whether he'll re-sign quickly or wait to see how the rest of L.A.'s offseason goes before making a decision is the key question at this stage.

So far, there's been no indication an agreement is imminent.

LeBron James can officially sign an extension with the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday. As usual, he holds all the cards.

A renewed commitment from James could give the Lakers the means to at least try and build a contender properly. But James' history with the Cleveland Cavaliers suggests he may prefer to take things one year at a time.

Most immediately, James' decision will impact how willing Los Angeles may be to make a Russell Westbrook trade. With long-term assurances from James, it's easier to give up future draft picks (perhaps in 2027 and/or 2029) or take on unwanted salary back in a Westbrook deal.

Without a long-term commitment, the Lakers would appear to be stuck with the current roster, left to significantly outperform expectations. FanDuel currently gives the Lakers the ninth-best title odds.

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What if James Leaves?

If James decides to move on after this season, the franchise could have massive spending power heading into the 2023 offseason.

The Lakers could have nearly $77 million in cap space to chase a James replacement if the roster is pared down to just Anthony Davis and Max Christie. That potential flexibility is why the Lakers have hesitated to trade Westbrook for a significant multi-year salary coming back in return.

The exact cap space figure would depend on Talen Horton-Tucker and Damian Jones, who both have player options. Additionally, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) may hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) ahead of the next season that could impact the salary cap.

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The Extension Options

James can extend for up to two additional seasons at about $97.1 million, starting at approximately $47 million. That would take him through the 2024-25 season, which lines up with the end of Davis' current deal.

That commitment would give the Lakers the clarity to take on the salary or give up the draft considerations in the name of "winning now."

Instead, James may be more likely to take a one-plus-one extension, allowing him to opt out after the 2023-24 season. This may be the most likely decision, giving L.A. a sense of its future, but ultimately limits the front office's confidence in future investments surrounding James.

Assuming James gets a player option in a one-plus-one extension, that would ultimately be the equivalent to a single-year extension. It wouldn't give the team long-term security, but at least it would have a clear picture of its spending power in the summer of 2023.

If James is open to staying for less than a maximum salary, he is more likely to wait for free agency to see precisely how the team will benefit.

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What if James Doesn't Extend, Re-Signs in 2023?

James may choose to retain leverage on how the Lakers use its resources. That's how James approached his second stint in Cleveland.

He could understandably wait for free agency to see if a new CBA raises his earning potential.

But keeping Los Angeles in limbo may be counterproductive.

If James chooses to re-sign in 2023 on a one-year deal, the Lakers would be in an even more helpless position, given that Davis can also opt out and depart in 2024. Uncertainty with one star is a problem. Uncertainty with two stars is a nightmare.

James can also sign for three years for roughly $151 million, starting at about $47 million. The Lakers could still reach about $31.5 million in cap space with James back at the max (less with Horton-Tucker, Jones and any potential keepers like Austin Reaves). That might be enough cap space to chase a free agent like Kyrie Irving instead of trading for him this offseason.

Another (albeit unlikely) path could be James signing for as low as $3.1 million on a one-year minimum deal in 2023.

That's a more extreme version of what James Harden appears to be doing in Philadelphia with the 76ers—taking less for a year to re-sign for more the following summer. But the Sixers are under investigation for potentially circumventing the rules with Harden—how that situation is resolved may determine how the Lakers proceed with James.

The Lakers would have up to $76 million to spend with James if he signs at the minimum, with the rights to re-sign him at the max the following season.

However, a more reasonable path would be a short-term pay cut that's enough to enable the Lakers to add a significant piece or two. That also assumes Los Angeles and James are on the same page, have mutual trust and the NBA doesn't try to intervene.

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Ultimately...

A one-plus-one extension seems the most reasonable path forward, giving James two years of security, with the ability to leave sooner—and perhaps to join the team that drafts his son Bronny James, if not the Lakers.

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Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @EricPincus.

If Kyrie Irving leaves the Brooklyn Nets, he'll almost certainly be suiting up in Purple and Gold during the next phase of his career.

"All indications" are that the Los Angeles Lakers are Irving's "top destination" if he leaves the Nets, according to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, whether that's in a trade this year or next year in free agency.

Irving opted in to his $36.5 million player option for the 2022-23 campaign and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Buha added that since there's currently a lack of interest in trading for him around the league that "it seems like the Lakers are his most likely free-agent option next summer, other than the Nets."

In early July, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported the Nets and Lakers were "actively engaged" in preliminary trade discussions centered around Irving and Russell Westbrook and that there was "palpable optimism" a deal could be reached this offseason.

However, Haynes also noted that the Nets "are not expected to be rushed into a deal and will continue conversing the complex specifics with the Lakers on an Irving-Westbrook swap."

Since then, ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported late last month on NBA Today (h/t Jared Greenspan of the New York Post) that there was "no traction" on an Irving-Westbrook swap and that talks had stalled out.

Irving has been linked to the Lakers for much of the summer since ESPN's Steve A. Smith reported in June that the veteran point guard wanted to team up with LeBron James again in L.A. "as soon as he possibly can."

The Athletic's Sam Amick, Alex Schiffer and Joe Vardon also reported that Irving was focused on joining the Lakers even before he opted in to his 2022-23 contract with the Nets. However, ESPN's Brian Windhorst added that Irving would need to first wait until Kevin Durant, who requested a trade, was moved.

Nonetheless, it's no surprise the Lakers are interested in adding Irving as he would be an upgrade over Westbrook, who had an abysmal first season with the Purple and Gold, averaging 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists while shooting 44.4 percent from the floor and 29.8 percent from deep.

Irving, who wasn't allowed to play in home games for much of the 2021-22 season due to New York City's vaccination mandate for indoor arenas, still averaged 27.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists while shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 41.8 percent from deep last season.

Putting the seven-time All-Star alongside James, his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, and Anthony Davis would give the Lakers a better chance at contending for an NBA title in a tough Western Conference that saw them miss the playoffs last season.

The wonky fit between Russell Westbrook and the Los Angeles Lakers could take another contentious turn this season if the veteran point guard finds himself benched late in games.

According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic: "Lakers head coach Darvin Ham will have more power to bench Westbrook down the stretch of games, according to league sources. (Former head coach Frank Vogel did so a few times last season). That could eventually extend to removing Westbrook from the starting lineup as well."

That won't be an issue if Westbrook is traded before the season, of course, but up until this point, such a deal hasn't come to fruition.

Given how poorly Westbrook fit with the Lakers last campaign, that still feels like a real possibility. The 33-year-old averaged 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game, fine numbers in a vacuum but a drop-off for a player who averaged at least 21.0 points a game for the prior 11 seasons and won an MVP in the 2016-17 season.

Add in that Westbrook shot just 29.8 percent from three and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line—or that the Lakers were outscored by four points per 100 possessions last season when Westbrook was on the floor, per NBA.com, a number that dropped to being outscored by 1.6 points per 100 possessions when he sat—and the numbers don't paint a pretty picture.

Neither did Westbrook's regular appearances on Shaqtin' A Fool.

Amid all of that, Westbrook's ball-dominant style and lack of floor spacing made him an awkward fit next to LeBron James.

Reports emerged this offseason that the trio of Westbrook, James and Anthony Davis spoke on the phone during Las Vegas Summer League, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, with "each expressing their commitment to one another and vowing to make it work."

That doesn't make the basketball fit any less wonky, however. And that might mean that the Lakers' best lineup doesn't include Westbrook, which could lead Ham to experimenting with Westbrook on the bench late in games.

It's hard to imagine the nine-time All-Star taking that decision well. But it's the sort of potential drama that makes the Lakers such an apt inhabitant of Tinseltown.

The James family is back in the gym.

LeBron James shared video of a workout he did with his sons, Bronny and Bryce, at the Los Angeles Lakers facility:

Bron, Bronny and Bryce putting in work at the Lakers facility 🔥

(via @KingJames) https://t.co/s6ItVBMB6F

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 2, 2022

This may be far from the last time fans see LeBron and Bronny at an NBA facility together. After all, the all-time great has been open about his desire to play on the same NBA team as his son one day.

"My last year will be played with my son," James said during the All-Star break in February, per Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. "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."

Bronny's senior season at Sierra Canyon begins this fall, and he will be eligible for the 2024 NBA draft.

His father's current contract with the Lakers expires after the 2022-23 season, so the James family reunion could very well happen down the line.

The Los Angeles Lakers confirmed the Twitter account of team governor Jeanie Buss was hacked.

"Lakers Fans, my Twitter account has been hacked. Please do not engage with it or send any money," Buss said Tuesday. "These are NOT legitimate offers. The Lakers will alert you when I am back in control of my account."

“Lakers Fans, my Twitter account has been hacked. Please do not engage with it or send any money. These are NOT legitimate offers. The Lakers will alert you when I am back in control of my account." - Jeanie Buss

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 2, 2022

NBA fans suspected that to be the case when in a since-deleted post from the account belonging to Buss said it had three PlayStation 5s to sell:

Jeanie Buss' official Twitter account appears to have been hacked 😬 pic.twitter.com/Zx6P2c1O23

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 2, 2022

This is a fairly common scam to capitalize on the limited availability of PlayStation 5 consoles. ESPN's Jeff Passan was targeted by a similar scheme in March.

If the hacker wanted to cause complete chaos instead of attempting to scam people out of their money, they could've said through Buss's account the Lakers were trading LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The Cleveland Cavaliers might have the cap space to sign LeBron James in 2023, but that's not currently in the team's plans, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

"The Cavs are not proceeding with the intention of getting LeBron for a third time," Vardon wrote.

James, a native of nearby Akron, Ohio, was drafted by the Cavaliers and spent his first seven years with the team. After leaving for the Miami Heat, he returned to Cleveland four years later and helped bring home an NBA title in 2016.

The 37-year-old is heading into his fifth season with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022-23, but he can become a free agent next summer and previously indicated a return to Cleveland is possible.

"The door’s not closed on that," James told Jason Lloyd of The Athletic in February. "I'm not saying I'm coming back and playing, I don't know. I don't know what my future holds. I don't even know when I'm free."

When LeBron returned to Cleveland in 2014, the squad hadn't made the playoffs in four years but had exciting young players, most notably Kyrie Irving. The team has once again gone four years without a postseason appearance going into 2022-23, but Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley represent an elite young core.

Adding James in 2023-24 could once again turn the team into a legitimate contender.

As Vardon noted, the Cavaliers also own their 2024 first-round pick, which could be used on James' oldest son, Bronny James. LeBron has said he wants to play alongside his son, but the Lakers don't have a first-round pick when Bronny is eligible in 2024.

Despite these connections, the Cavs seemingly aren't planning for LeBron's return and will instead build around the players already on the roster.

Vardon reported the superstar is eligible to sign a two-year extension with the Lakers on Thursday worth about $98 million.