LeBron James is back home in Cleveland for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game as the Los Angeles Lakers are in a much-needed break after such a horrendous first half of the season. Laker fans are hoping that this break could be beneficial to the team, although some fans have given up.
Those fans that have given up might be turning to the future of the team and outlining how the Lakers can get back to the NBA Finals in the future. It might be a longer road than anticipated as Russell Westbrook is under contract for $47.1 million next season, so it is not like the Lakers can add much.
However, the year after that Westbrook’s contract is off the books as well as LeBron James’. The Lakers could theoretically bring in a third superstar assuming LeBron James takes a pay cut (perhaps as a handshake agreement for the Lakers to draft Bronny).
That is something that is absolutely possible and if so, LeBron is going to utilize any chance he can get to potentially recruit his next teammate, or at least get a feel for a potential future teammate. Let’s not forget when LeBron kind of took Kyrie Irving under his wing during the All-Star Break just a few months before he re-joined the Cavaliers in 2014.
There are certain all-stars that LeBron James could be recruiting to the Lakers.
There are three all-stars whose free-agent timelines match the Los Angeles Lakers. Obviously, LeBron is not going to outright tell said players to come to the Lakers in two years time, but he knows exactly how to play the modern NBA game and could very well be planting the seeds to a future partnership with said players.
He has done it before (even with Anthony Davis!) and he will do it again. Let’s dive into the three all-stars that LeBron James may have his eyes on.