LeBron wants a max contract? “Then he should go back to Cleveland”
Magic Johnson believes the Lakers should avoid handing LeBron James another massive contract. If Los Angeles wants to compete with the Spurs and return to the top of the NBA, it needs more depth and a younger roster
Sometimes, building the future requires the courage to move on from even the most glorious past. As what promises to be a pivotal offseason unfolds, the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves facing perhaps their most difficult crossroads in years: re-sign unrestricted free agent LeBron James or finally turn the page.
While the idea of the four-time NBA champion leaving Los Angeles once seemed like pure fantasy, recent comments from Lakers legend Magic Johnson, made during Stephen A. Smith’s Get Up program, have added fuel to the uncertainty surrounding the franchise’s future.
At the center of the discussion is money – and the Lakers’ evolving internal hierarchy. At 41 years old, LeBron remains an elite force on the court, but his reported desire for a max contract clashes with the financial realities of a team that must also secure key pieces, beginning with Austin Reaves.
I think Luka Doncic and Reaves are going to have to sit down and say, ‘Hey LeBron, we want you back with the Lakers, we need you.’ But then the real key becomes the number – how much money they decide to pay him. There’s a new owner, Mark Walter, and it’s up to him to make that decision. They need to do it quickly
Magic Johnson
Time is running short. With the NBA Draft scheduled for June 23, the Lakers have just over a week to establish a clear direction. If James remains firm in seeking a maximum-salary deal – after earning $52.6 million this past season – a separation could become the most realistic outcome. And that possibility doesn’t seem to concern Johnson. In fact, he floated the idea of a storybook return to Cleveland.
Cleveland wouldn’t be a bad destination at all for him. The Cavaliers are already built to win. If you add LeBron to that lineup, you instantly create an incredible team with a real chance to do something special in the East
Magic Johnson
Any discussion about the Lakers’ future must also include a hard look at the balance of power in the Western Conference. Even though LeBron still posted impressive numbers last season – 20.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game – his age doesn’t align with the blueprint Johnson envisions for the franchise moving forward.
The Lakers desperately need to get younger, more athletic and faster. Look at who they’ll have to beat in the West over the next several years: Oklahoma City and San Antonio aren’t going anywhere. They’re built to dominate. Los Angeles has to get younger and provide real help for Luka Doncic. They need to play with more pace
Magic Johnson
The race to catch the West’s young powerhouses is officially underway. The only question left is whether the Lakers will take that journey with LeBron James by their side for one last run – or allow the King’s crown to shine once again in Ohio.