Lakers: We’ll support whatever LeBron decides

The Lakers’ leadership has recently announced that they are looking forward to LeBron James continuing his incredible career with the team, as he still has two years left on his contract. General Manager Rob Pelinka expressed his hopes for LeBron’s continued success and addressed some of those questions in Tuesday’s team’s exit interviews with head coach Darvin Ham.

Pelinka acknowledged that there is ample time for discussion. He recognized LeBron’s unparalleled contributions to the basketball game and believes he has earned the autonomy to make decisions in his best interest. Pelinka expressed his hope that LeBron will continue to play but assured that he will have the unwavering backing of the team, even if he chooses a different path.

“LeBron has given as much to the basketball game as anyone ever played. When you do that, you earn the right to decide if you want to give more,” Pelinka said. “Our hope would be that his career continues.”

Throughout the playoffs, LeBron has been dealing with a leg injury that may require surgery in the upcoming summer. Despite this, he maintained an impressive average of 24.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists.

At the same press conference, Coach Darvin Ham playfully quipped about the challenging nature of the season and its ultimate matches, even contemplating retirement as a result.

“In all seriousness, LeBron has earned the right to do whatever he wants to do, make whatever choice,” expressed Ham. While he refrained from speculating on the specifics of LeBron’s choice, he graciously acknowledged James as an unwavering source of support throughout his inaugural stint as a head coach.

In 2011, Ham joined the Lakers as an assistant coach after fulfilling the same position with the Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks. His commendable performance led to his appointment as the head coach for the Los Angeles team in June of last year.

When questioned about the future roster and the desired players to retain, Rob Pelinka expressed his immense pride in the team, emphasizing the significance of maintaining continuity.

“This group has achieved remarkable accomplishments, and we take great pride in their achievements. Moving forward, we must prioritize continuity,” Pelinka remarked. He emphasized the importance of preserving the core players and maintaining their collective synergy as a critical factor in the team’s future success. It remains to be seen whether players like Reaves, Hachimura, or Vanderbilt will appear. While the Lakers organization may seem predictable, there’s no telling what might happen before the season begins.