Jason Smith and Mike Harmon discuss LeBron James' end of season press conference comments regarding Luka Doncic's future with the Lakers. James is only getting older and the Lakers are taking back control of the team from James, who now isn't the franchise player for the first time in his career.
Jason Smith:
"You hear him say stuff like, hey, I told Luka when it comes to your next contract you do you. I'm not going to be around much longer. It seems like he's sort of pulling back a little bit from where he was because he knows this is how it's going, that the Lakers are retaking the organization. So unless it's a big run for the Lakers next year, that's it because Lakers are going to go. Ok So we had two years of LeBron and Luka. Didn't work. Ok LeBron is 41 and Luka is 26. Unless it's a big run, that's it for LeBron with the Lakers next season."
Mike Harmon:
"Yeah I mean, he's got the one-year player option, $52 Million we've talked about. And some speculation, he comes back either to the Lakers or should he decide to go elsewhere for lesser money, whether it's your dream scenario of Cleveland or whatever else. But it is a curiosity right? His post-game commentary where he was being glib and snarky throwing out right? I can't answer a thing about the roster because, hey, that guy AD got shipped out after he talked. But just showing that, his response to the Luka questions about recruiting and getting him to sign long term, whatever, saying, hey, that's not my job. That's not what I'm here for. Well, that's a guy kind of readily admitting. He's like hey, maybe I'm here a year or two or three years longer, but if you're looking at the larger picture. That will not include me."