LeBron is a diva and a control freak
Much has been said about Kobe Bryant and players not wanting to team up with him. But the same could also be said about James. Kyrie Irving’s demand to be traded because he doesn’t want to play with LeBron is proof, and James’ treatment of Kevin Love has been well documented.
Although James is the best player in the NBA right now, the negatives about him may be starting to outweigh the positives. He’s hard to please and is often passive aggressive with his teammates and organization when he’s not satisfied. The last thing the Lakers need is a subtweet from LeBron.
James is also someone who takes over a franchise and has to be in control. He wants to have a say in everything, especially which players a team signs, yet he won’t commit to an organization long-term.
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The Lakers are young and on the rise. Signing James will derail a rebuilding process that benefits the entire franchise to build around him in the short-term. If L.A. puts all their eggs in the LeBron basket and they aren’t as successful as he’d hoped and he walks, what will be left of the Lakers?
Because James demands so much attention and say about the franchise, L.A. would have to put aside the development of Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram to appease him. That may not be worth it knowing LeBron could move on from the Lakers almost as quickly as he could come.
L.A. should prioritize the development of their young stars and build for the future. Building around James and his diva ways is counterproductive and will only hinder their growth.