2. Signing an extension might not even be smart for the Lakers
Let’s say LeBron James does not want to play the leverage game and is willing to sign a two-year extension with the Lakers (with the last year likely being a player option so he can potentially opt out to play with Bronny James). This would not be totally shocking as James seems to love the Hollywood lifestyle in LA and that might be more important to him.
However, his comments during the NBA All-Star Break don’t indicate that LeBron is going to not want leverage over the Lakers. Heck, he is already saying how much he would love to play Stephen Curry. Klutch Sports will pass it off as a meaningless comment but LeBron is calculated. He knows what he wants to say and when to say it.
Anyways, back to the extension. It may seem like a perfect world to simply extend LeBron, extend the title window and then pursue another big name once Westbrook’s contract (or whoever they have to trade for) is off the books. While he is the face of the league, we absolutely are justified in asking if it is worth it.
LeBron fans will point to him potentially winning the scoring title at 37 years old as proof that it is worth it. Yes, he could win the scoring title, but he has also missed more games in the last four seasons than in his entire career before. He played two-thirds of the season and put up great individual numbers. Great. Is that worth $40+ million in two years when he is 39 and is even slower and more injury-prone?
We see NBA teams do this time and time again. They pay for past production and it is really hard to look in the mirror and not give LeBron James more years after the numbers that he put up this season.
But that is exactly what he wants. It is a really hard thing to do, but projecting two years into the future is something that the Lakers absolutely should be doing. Especially considering…