LakerTom

LakerTom
3 weeks, 2 days ago

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

The story of where LeBron James will play basketball for the 2026-27 season — if he plays at all — began last June 29, when his longtime agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, told ESPN’s Shams Charania that James would exercise his player option for 2025-26 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul told Charania at the time. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all.”

By opting in to his contract, James did something he had never done during his 23-year career: set himself up to be a free agent without a fallback option. It signaled the uncertainty over whether this would be his final NBA season or potentially just his final one in a Lakers uniform.

Paul’s announcement sparked immediate speculation about James’ future and has remained a water-cooler conversation topic in NBA circles for months. It will only get louder Tuesday, when James and the Lakers host his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. It won’t stop until he hits free agency this summer — or he announces his retirement.

Here is a look at the factors league insiders believe James will weigh in his decision — and the teams that could emerge as options this summer — culled from conversations ESPN has had with more than a dozen sources across the NBA in recent weeks.

Jump to a section:
Will LeBron play in 2026-27?
What would a deal look like?

Will LeBron decide to keep playing?

At 41, James is already the league’s oldest player and has passed Vince Carter for the most seasons played, eclipsed Robert Parish for the most games played and long ago put Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the rearview for the most points scored in NBA history.

Since last offseason, James has dealt with sciatica, which disrupted and delayed the start of his 2025-26 campaign. And after all the rehab he endured to make it back, his days have been filled with the preparation, maintenance and recovery needed to play on a nightly basis.

After giving signals earlier this season that this could be his last go-round — including shouting out road cities on Instagram after playing what could be his final games there — he distanced himself from retirement talk during All-Star Weekend. Had he leaned into it, the event could have taken on a different tone to celebrate James. Instead, he was just another veteran on the USA Stripes team trying to fend off the up-and-coming challengers on USA Stars and the World team.

“When I know, you guys will know,” James said when asked about his plans. “I don’t know. I have no idea. I just want to live, that’s all.”

Since then, life has become easier for James with the Lakers. After a post-holidays funk dropped them to No. 6 in the West, they’re solidly in the No. 3 spot with fewer than 10 games remaining. He shared court time with his son, Bronny, in meaningful minutes in Indiana last week to cap off a 5-1 road trip. And rather than dropping retirement hints on social media, James has been spamming recent IG stories with slides showing off the exploits of his Lakers teammates.

With the way James’ body is holding up and his unmistakably renewed spirit during the hot streak, it is hard to imagine him thinking he cannot play beyond this summer. The question is: With the rigors an NBA season brings, will he want to at 42?

How much money will he expect to be paid?

In talking to sources about what James might do, conversations often focused on how much money he would be willing to play for after two decades of making the maximum or close to it.

“Will he play for the midlevel exception? For the minimum?” one scout asked. “A big part of this is knowing what he will be willing to do [financially].”

That doesn’t account for the possibility of returning to the Lakers, who will have James’ Bird rights and the ability to pay him up to the max for next season. They are hoping to remake the roster around Luka Doncic, however, and must factor in Austin Reaves’ upcoming unrestricted free agency.

If James chooses to go elsewhere, signing for the minimum will put him in play for any franchise and won’t force any roster maneuvers to fit him in the salary cap. Signing for the full midlevel exception (roughly $15 million) or agreeing to a sign-and-trade could force teams to duck below the first luxury tax apron to add him.

Another factor to consider: time. Whether James chooses to remain a Laker or play elsewhere, a key component is when he makes his decision. Will it be whenever the Lakers’ season ends? Before free agency opens June 30? In August, after he has given his body time to tell him whether it is able to handle another season? The longer he waits, the fewer options there will be as teams fill out their rosters throughout the summer.

Of course, the “when” is nowhere near as intriguing as the “where.”

LeBron’s top options this offseason

Lakers

When James returned to the Lakers lineup March 12 against the Chicago Bulls after missing L.A.’s previous three games with left foot, left elbow and right hip ailments, the team he was rejoining had changed.

The previously inconsistent Lakers had found a groove, going 3-0 against the Indiana Pacers, New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves with Doncic averaging 36.7 points per game and Reaves averaging 25.0.

The Lakers’ performance was in stark contrast to the previous couple of weeks when James had been in the lineup. His 19.0 points on 51.8% shooting, 6.8 assists and 4.9 rebounds during an eight-game stretch far exceeded the output of any other player this late into his career, but L.A. went only 4-4 when it was supposed to be making its post-All-Star push.

The fact that his absence coincided with the Lakers’ ascent sparked a national conversation about James’ fit on the team. One L.A. sports talk station even ran a segment wondering whether James — the NBA’s leading career scorer and an All-Star this season — should come off the bench.

Whatever outside noise was swirling, it didn’t penetrate James’ psyche inside the locker room at Crypto.com Arena ahead of tipoff against Chicago. With his gold No. 23 Lakers jersey hanging behind him, James danced in front of his locker and sang along as Michael Jackson’s “Remember the Time” piped through the speakers.

“Those sweet memories … will always be dear to me …”

Whether intended as a wistful playlist or not, the lyrics served as a reminder of how little time there could be left in James’ career. And as James shifted from dancing to digging through a duffel bag filled with 15 colorways of his signature sneakers to choose which pair to wear for the night, that simple decision served as a reminder of the major one he’ll make this summer.

And, as ESPN reported last month, if James decides Los Angeles is where he wants to play his 24th NBA season, the Lakers would welcome him back. President of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka’s declaration before the season that he would love it if James retires a Laker was meant to reflect a 2026 or 2027 retirement, sources told ESPN.

After an up-and-down opening stretch of the season — when James was first sidelined with the back issues and then he, Doncic and Reaves struggled to mesh — the team has taken off recently with James being willing to settle into a role as the team’s third scoring option.

“To their credit, and to his credit, [LeBron is] playing the right way,” a Western Conference scout said. “He’s a basketball savant, and he’s figuring out how to fill in the gaps, and they are unstoppable right now.”

L.A. will have close to $50 million in projected cap space this summer with James’ $52.6 million and Rui Hachimura’s $18.3 million salaries off the books, assuming both Deandre Ayton ($8.1 million) and Marcus Smart ($5.4 million) pick up their player options.

The Lakers aren’t expected to take that $50 million and give it to another star instead of James. They have interest in re-signing Reaves, Jaxson Hayes and Luke Kennard, team sources told ESPN, not to mention Hachimura, if the price is right. Reaves will decline a $14.9 million player option and enter unrestricted free agency, sources familiar with his plans told ESPN.

He will have a $20.9 million free agent cap hold, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, which will leave Los Angeles at that $50 million cap space number no matter how close Reaves’ new deal comes to the five-year, $241 million max contract he is eligible to sign.

It remains to be seen how much of a pay cut James might be willing to take after commanding max contracts for years. On several occasions this season, James has groused to reporters that he doesn’t publicly admonish the officiating anymore because he doesn’t want to be fined when he won’t have many more NBA checks coming in.

His wife, Savannah, and 11-year-old daughter, Zhuri, live with him in his recently renovated Brentwood estate. Bronny has a partially guaranteed contract with the Lakers next season. And his other son, Bryce, plays basketball at the University of Arizona, a short flight away. The offices for Klutch Sports and Uninterrupted, run by his close friends and business partners, Rich Paul and Maverick Carter, are in Los Angeles.

Another motivator, mentioned to ESPN by several league sources when asked to assess James’ situation, can’t be overlooked: It’s hard to beat Southern California’s year-round climate and golf courses to fuel his growing obsession.
LakerTom
3 weeks, 2 days ago

LeBron is coming back on a new 2-year contract for $20M next season and $15M for the second year.

LakerTom wrote a new post

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Six Lakers Who Could Win New Contracts With Deep Playoff Run

March 30, 2026

Six Lakers — Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes — could leave LA as free agents this summer or win new contracts with strong post-season play in a deep playoff run.

Four weeks ago, the Lakers were desperately hanging onto the #6 seed with hopes of avoiding the play-in. While Reaves was in for a big payday, James, Smart, Kennard, Hachimura, and Hayes were all facing uncertain futures. Today, the Lakers have won 14 of last 16 including 5 wins over top-10 teams and a strong lead to lock up the #3 seed in the West. In that 16-game run, all six of the above Lakers have had strong offensive and defensive games.

The Lakers’ six-pack of veteran players who could end up leaving via free agency or winning new contracts with outstanding playoff performances includes three starters in Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Marcus Smart.
Assuming they have a deep playoff run, the Lakers are expected to re-sign Reaves to a new contract and have interest in bringing back Smart, James, Kennard, Hachimura, Hayes but not Ayton, whom they plan to upgrade.

With a $165M salary cap less $75M in contracts, and $15M in roster holds, the Lakers could have as much as $75M in open cap space plus three first round picks to sign or S&T for other teams’ free agents next summer.
If ownership will pay the taxes, the Lakers could hard cap themselves at the $220M second apron. After $75M in contracts and $75M for other team’s free agents, the Lakers would still have $70M for their own free agents.

Let’s take a look at what each of these six Lakers’ players have done during the last four weeks to justify winning new contracts, how much they would cost to re-sign, and what they would bring to the team going forward.

1. AUSTIN REAVES

…

Austin Reaves will be eligible this summer to receive up to 5-years and $241M from the Lakers or 4-years and $180M from other teams. The Lakers certainly want to re-sign Reaves. The only question is for how much.

While Austin Reaves has been sensational, he still needs to prove he can do in the playoffs what he can do in the regular season. Even if he can do that, the Lakers could still decide they cannot afford to pay him a max salary.
Assuming Reaves and the team have an elite playoffs, the Lakers will likely ask Reaves to do the same as they’ll ask James to do, which is to agree to a team friendly deal so they can build a deep talented championship roster.

The Lakers have the leverage over Reaves as none of the teams with the cap space to sign Austin to a max deal next summer are legitimate contenders. Reaves has a situation with the Lakers that makes the money secondary.
The Lakers will need everybody to sacrifice to bring back Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes and sign Peyton Watson and sign-and-trade for Walker Kessler.

For Austin Reaves, the sacrifice could mean accepting a 4-year $150M deal that starts at $35M per year with a player option for the 4th year. That would give Reaves a realistic shot at a legitimate max deal in 3 years.
James and Reaves willingly making sacrifices could give the team the financial resources needed to keep the current core together and add the elite starting 3&D wing and rim protecting defensive center they need.

Austin Reaves will need to be one of the driving forces behind a successful and deep playoff run by the Lakers to at least the conference finals. As a team leader, he will also need to accept a team friendly $35M contract.

2. LEBRON JAMES

…

Four weeks ago, the Lakers had little interest in LeBron James returning next season, preferring to have his $52M in cap space off the books so they could pursue coveted free agents Peyton Watson and Walker Kessler.

But then JJ Redick convinced LeBron James to agree to become the Lakers’ third option to make their Big Three work and allow developing superstar Austin Reaves to be the team’s second lead ball handler and playmaker.
LeBron playing off the ball and taking fewer but more efficient shots has been one of the major factors why the Lakers went 13–2 over last 15 games. That move has now put everybody on the Lakers team on the same page.

The Lakers have undergone a massive transformation the last 4 weeks. Luka has been playing like an MVP, Austin like an All-Star, and LeBron like the GOAT with top tier lock-down defense and high percentage offense.
The result is the Big Three everybody first envisioned but with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves unleashed to run the offense and LeBron James filling in with whatever skills and basketball tools the Lakers need to win each game.

While the Lakers cannot realistically give LeBron a max contract at 41, they could still sign him to a 1 or 2-year long contract for $15M to $20M per year to become their perfect “Jack-of-all-Trades’ and ‘Superstar Role Player.’
With James and Reaves taking the lead and taking less, the Lakers could conceivably have enough cap space to bring back all six of their free agents as well as adding two new high powered starters in Watson and Kessler.

LeBron James will need to continue to be the Lakers ‘Superstar Role Player’ helping to lead the Lakers to a deep run in the 2026 NBA Playoffs. He will also need to sacrifice by only taking $15M to $20M per year salary.

3. MARCUS SMART

…

One of the major keys to the Lakers success this season was Rob Pelinka’s gamble to sign point guard and former DPOY Marcus Smart and JJ Redick’s move to start him in a 3-guard lineup with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves.

After a couple of seasons on non-contending teams after being traded by Boston, Marcus Smart is finally healthy and playing at the same level that won him the 2022 DPOY. Smart’s the Lakers’ defensive leader and voice.
Marcus Smart’s elite point-of-attach defense and fearless clutch 3-point shooting have had a team-best impact on both the Lakers’ defense and offense. For the season, Marcus Smart has a team-best plus/minus of +238.

Defensively, Smart’s 110.9 defensive rating is team-best for the season. He is also 1st on the team and 2nd in the NBA in charges drawn, 3rd on the team with 1.4 steals per game, and 6th on team with 0.4 blocks per game.
Offensively, Marcus Smart’s 7.4 offensive rating is 6th best on team, his 9.5 points per game 6th best, his 2.8 assists per game 4th best, his 4.8 3-point attempts per game 3rd best, and his 1.5 3-point makes per game 4th best.

Moving forward, the Lakers will likely look to replace Smart in the starting lineup with a younger, bigger elite 3&D small forward like Peyton Watson, moving Marcus to backup point guard, which should be his ideal position.
While Smart will have suiters in free agency, he has no desire to chase a bigger salary vs. being on a championship caliber team. He will re-sign with Lakers for 3-years starting at $15M with 3rd year player option.

Marcus Smart will need to continue to stay healthy and show he can still play elite point-of-attack defense and hit his shots. Smart is the Lakers’ top priority free agent after Reaves and James. Smart wants to be a Laker.

4. LUKE KENNARD

…

While trading for Luke Kennard was the only move the Lakers made at the trade deadline, the trade triggered a transformation of the Lakers 3-point takes and makes in less than four weeks from a bottom-10 to top-5 team.

What Luke Kennard gave the Lakers was a 2nd dangerous high percentage, low volume 3-point shooter like Rui Hachimura for elite playmakers Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and LeBron James to find for wide open threes.
While the Lakers efforts to turn Luke and Rui into volume 3-point shooters has not yet worked, the addition of Kennard and increase in 3-point takes and makes by Doncic have revolutionized LA’s 3-point shooting prowess.

Right now, Luke Kennard at 47.4% is the Lakers’ most accurate 3-point shooter and part of a six-pack of 3-ball shooters headed by Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Marcus Smart, Rui Hachimura, and LeBron James.
Over the Lakers last 16 games, those six players combined have been averaging 13.2 3-point makes on 33.6 3-point takes per game for 39.3%. As a team for that period, LA was #22 in 3PA, #16 in 3PM, and #7 in 3P%.

Luke Kennard will need to continue to shoot close to 50% from deep but also needs to raise his 3-point attempts from the current 3 per game to closer to 6 per game, which he’s done 3 times in his 9 years in the NBA.
Kennard’s value to the Lakers depends on whether he can become a volume 3-point shooter with Doncic, Reaves, and James feeding him. The Lakers prefer Luke shoot 6 threes per game @ 40% over 3 per game @ 50%.

While Luke doesn’t have a quick release and only pulls the trigger when he’s wide open, he will never be the high volume 3-point weapon that Luka is but he’s also not just a 3-point shooter but also a smart basketball player.
It’s not a coincidence that we’re seeing Kennard on the floor with the Lakers’ Big Three to close out games. Luke would likely have to trade years for money. Lakers would likely re-sign him for 3 years starting at $10M.

Luke Kennard will need to continue to shoot lights out from deep but with higher volume and be a positive factor to the team’s offense and defense. Luke’s a perfect fit for LA’s need for a high percentage 3-point shooter.

5. RUI HACHIMURA

…

Rui Hachimura probably faces the toughest challenge of the six veteran Lakers on or likely to be on expiring contracts to win a new contract due to his current $18M salary and his recent move from starter to the bench.

Rui has continued to be an elite high percentage 3-point shooter and has accepted the move to the bench well. While the Lakers wish Hachimura were more aggressive and better defensively, he’s been a valuable player.
Like Smart, coming off the bench will impact what the Lakers can pay Hachimura. Like Marcus, Rui will have to accept a new deal that reflects he’s no longer a starter but is also now on a potential championship team.

Despite how much Rui loves playing for the Lakers and being in LA, there’s a good possibility he’ll get an offer the Lakers cannot afford to beat. In the end, Rui needs the Lakers’ other potential returnees to all take a little less.
The other wild card when it comes to Hachimura is Mark Walter’s desire to make the Lakers and Dodgers global brands. Like with Ohtani, Hachimura being Japanese could be a factor when it comes down to a new contract.

The Lakers’ plan to steal Peyton Watson from the Nuggets doesn’t help Rui’s case for a new contract but a S&T of Vanderbilt, LaRavia, Knecht, Thiero ($25M), and three picks to the Jazz for center Walker Kessler $30M does.
The only problem with the Lakers’ signing-and-trading for Kessler is it hard caps them at the $209M first apron rather than the $222 second apron, which costs $13M in cap space, $5M of which we recover via the S&T.

Rui must continue to shine as a 3-point shooter coming off the bench and have a series of other dominoes fall his way to get a new contract. If the Lakers can pull off the Kessler sign-and-trade, Rui will remain a Laker

6. JAXSON HAYES

…

Jaxson Hayes’ dramatic recent improvement blocking shots and protecting the rim on defense to with his lethal vertical lob threat for Luka Doncic on offense guarantees the Lakers will award him a new long-term contract.

One of the big reasons the Lakers have totally turned their season around the last four weeks has been the play of their centers. Both Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes have elevated their games to an entirely new level.
Ayton has surprised everybody by suddenly buying in to just doing what the Lakers want: protect the rim, control the boards, and attack on offense. The only problem is he’s not the rim protector or floor stretcher LA wants.

Jaxson Hayes, on the other hand, is suddenly surprising everybody by blocking everything around the rim. During the first 58 games of the year, Jaxson averaged 0.4 steals and 0.6 blocks in 17.4 minutes per game.
During the 16 games since then, Hayes has averaged 0.6 steals and 1.4 blocks in 20.5 mpg. In the last 10 and 5 games, those numbers were 0.8 steals and 2.1 blocks in 20.8 mpg and 0.8 steals and 3.2 blocks in 24.1 mpg.

The difference has been amazing as Jackson appears to have finally figured out where to be when players drive to the hoop to that he can use his great leaping ability to block the shot. It’s been incredible to watch happen.
This is the kind of transformation you don’t even see during a player’s offseason when they have time to work on specific talents and skills. If Jax can continues protecting the rim like this, he’ll get $8M to $10M per year.

While the sample size is small, the improvement made by Jaxson Hayes as a shot blocker and rim protector is career changing. Jax will have to show he can it in the playoffs but if he does, he could be a Lakers game changer.

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7 Comments

LakerTom
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Six Lakers Who Could Win New Contracts With Deep Playoff Run Six Lakers — Austin Reaves, LeBron James, Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Rui Hachimura, Jaxson Hayes — could leave LA as free agents this summer or win new contracts with strong post-season play in a deep playoff run.… pic.twitter.com/FCm1wbdFRr— LakerTom (@LakerTom) March 30, 2026
LakerTom
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Six Lakers Who Could Win New Contracts With Deep Playoff Run 1. AUSTIN REAVESAustin Reaves will be eligible this summer to receive up to 5-years and $241M from the Lakers or 4-years and $180M from other teams. The Lakers certainly want to re-sign Reaves. The only question is… pic.twitter.com/04nRG7WJ7S— LakerTom (@LakerTom) March 30, 2026
LakerTom
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Six Lakers Who Could Win New Contracts With Deep Playoff Run 2. LEBRON JAMESFour weeks ago, the Lakers had little interest in LeBron James returning next season, preferring to have his $52M in cap space off the books so they could pursue coveted free agents Peyton Watson and… pic.twitter.com/hJf5ibwPfV— LakerTom (@LakerTom) March 30, 2026
LakerTom
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Six Lakers Who Could Win New Contracts With Deep Playoff Run 3. MARCUS SMARTOne of the major keys to the Lakers success this season was Rob Pelinka’s gamble to sign point guard and former DPOY Marcus Smart and JJ Redick’s move to start him in a 3-guard lineup with Luka… pic.twitter.com/pb17UItlhh— LakerTom (@LakerTom) March 30, 2026
LakerTom
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Six Lakers Who Could Win New Contracts With Deep Playoff Run 4. LUKE KENNARDWhile trading for Luke Kennard was the only move the Lakers made at the trade deadline, the trade triggered a transformation of the Lakers 3-point takes and makes in less than four weeks from a… pic.twitter.com/2nu86ulxWO— LakerTom (@LakerTom) March 30, 2026
LakerTom
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Six Lakers Who Could Win New Contracts With Deep Playoff Run5. RUI HACHIMURARui Hachimura probably faces the toughest challenge of the six veteran Lakers on or likely to be on expiring contracts to win a new contract due to his current $18M salary and his recent move from… pic.twitter.com/gmC5EtVhGa— LakerTom (@LakerTom) March 30, 2026
LakerTom
3 weeks, 3 days ago

Six Lakers Who Could Win New Contracts With Deep Playoff Run 6. JAXSON HAYESJaxson Hayes’ dramatic recent improvement blocking shots and protecting the rim on defense to with his lethal vertical lob threat for Luka Doncic on offense guarantees the Lakers will award him a new… pic.twitter.com/qjWxYZp2J6— LakerTom (@LakerTom) March 30, 2026

LakerTom
3 weeks, 2 days ago

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Tier 2: In a Good Place

6. Los Angeles Lakers (48-26)

Last ranking: 7
In the last week: L at DET, W at IND, W vs BRK
Offensive rating: 117.2 (eighth place)
Defensive rating: 115.7 (20th place)

Frontier Award: Luka Dončić

The Lakers have a powerful force in Dončić, the league’s leading scorer at 33.7 points per game. Dončić has 15 40-point games this season; that’s almost one 40-point game per technical foul. Fortunately, 40-point games don’t get rescinded, and neither does the fact that the Lakers haven’t lost consecutive games this month.
LakerTom
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Lakers 6th in NBA and Athletic power rankings.

LakerTom
3 weeks, 2 days ago

LeBron James crashed the background of Luke Kennard’s interview last night “Lukey, Lukeyy, LUKEYYYY KENNAARRD”(H/t @LawMurrayTheNU) pic.twitter.com/tX825zEkBV— LakersMuse (@LALMuse) March 31, 2026

LakerTom
3 weeks, 2 days ago

The Lakers beat the Wizards, 120-101, to improve to 15-2 since Feb. 28. LeBron 21 pts 12 ast 10 reb; Reaves 19 pts 9 ast; Jaxson 10 pts on 8-of-8 7 reb 2 blk; Kennard 10 pts on 7-of-10; Rui 14 pts 6 reb; Ayton 12 pts on 5-of-5 7 reb 3 blk.— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) March 31, 2026
LakerTom
3 weeks, 2 days ago

LEBRON TRIPLE-DOUBLE! 41 year old LeBron James record his 3rd triple-double of his year 23 season in Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-101 WIN vs. Washington! 💪👑📊 21 PTS, 10 REB, 12 AST, 1 BLK, 8/16 FGM, 1/3 3PM, 4 TOV, 33 MIN, +25, WINReaves/Kennard/Hayes: 19 PTS each Luka Doncic… pic.twitter.com/kXBgaD94ZM— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) March 31, 2026
LakerTom
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Final Stats 📊LeBron: 21 pts, 10 reb, 12 astAustin: 19 pts, 9 astJaxson: 19 pts, 7 rebLuke: 19 pts, 4-5 3PMRui: 14 pts, 6 rebDA: 12 pts, 7 reb, 3 blk pic.twitter.com/CmF27OOgbj— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 31, 2026
LakerTom
3 weeks, 2 days ago

• LeBron James 21 Point TRIPLE DOUBLE • Jaxson Hayes/Deandre Ayton was PERFECT from the paint tonight • Luke Kennard with 19 Points (Gabe Vincent just dropped to his knees in a random Krogers)• Austin Reaves with an efficient 19 Points • Bronny did his thing tonight… pic.twitter.com/UMjo6d5loG— HoodiBrons 💛💜 (@BronsHoodi) March 31, 2026
LakerTom
3 weeks, 2 days ago

Austin Reaves threw some pretty nice passes last night pic.twitter.com/3QHrzcaSY2— Iztok Franko (@iztok_franko) March 31, 2026

Buba Touray
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Dwyane Wade said it perfectly — but the truth is, LeBron’s greatness almost defies language at this point. What he’s building isn’t just a résumé, it’s a legacy carved across eras. He’s the only player in NBA history whose prime has lasted long enough to overlap with multiple generations of stars, and somehow he’s still the one setting the standard.

When Wade says LeBron will have “the greatest body of work the game has ever seen,” he’s not exaggerating. He’s speaking from the perspective of someone who’s been in the trenches with him, someone who’s seen the preparation, the sacrifice, the obsession with excellence. LeBron didn’t just dominate the league — he reshaped it. He expanded what longevity means. He redefined what versatility looks like. He elevated what leadership can be.

And the wildest part? He’s still adding chapters.

Every milestone he passes, every record he breaks, every season he extends the timeline of his greatness, he forces the basketball world to rethink what’s possible. Most legends have a peak. LeBron has a horizon — one that keeps moving because he keeps moving it.

When it’s all said and done, we won’t just talk about LeBron James as one of the greatest players ever. We’ll talk about him as the most complete, most sustained, most transformative force the game has ever known. Wade’s right: that puts him in a conversation by himself.

And honestly, we’re lucky to be witnessing it in real time.
- LakerTom
  3 weeks, 4 days ago
  
  I also saw an X post that said 90% of current players consider LeBron to be the GOAT.
  - DJ2KB24
    3 weeks, 3 days ago
    
    Jordan said recently that there is no single GOAT. There are several that could fit, but I think with everything considered, LBJ is Number 1, IMHO!
Buba Touray
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Thanks for responding, Tom.

If 90% of current NBA players consider LeBron James the GOAT, that’s not just a statistic — that’s a verdict from the very people who live the grind, feel the pace, and understand the game at its deepest level. These aren’t fans arguing on social media or analysts debating on TV. These are the athletes who lace up every night, who study film, who prepare game plans, who’ve either battled LeBron or grown up watching him redefine what greatness looks like.

When the overwhelming majority of today’s players point to LeBron as the greatest ever, it tells you something profound: his impact isn’t theoretical. It’s lived. It’s felt. It’s respected.

Players know how hard it is to dominate for five years — LeBron has done it for two decades. Players know how impossible it is to carry the expectations of a franchise — LeBron has carried the expectations of an entire sport. Players know how rare it is to evolve your game — LeBron has reinvented himself multiple times and is still producing at a level that shouldn’t even be biologically possible.

So when 90% of the league says he’s the GOAT, they’re acknowledging the totality of his greatness: the longevity, the versatility, the leadership, the IQ, the durability, the consistency, the championships, the records, the cultural impact. They’re saying, “We’ve seen it up close. We’ve tried to stop it. And we still can’t deny it.”

That kind of peer validation is the highest honor any athlete can receive. It’s the game itself speaking through its players.

And honestly, when the people who understand basketball better than anyone overwhelmingly choose LeBron, the conversation shifts. It stops being about narratives and nostalgia. It becomes about reality.

LeBron James isn’t just in the GOAT debate — he’s defining it.
- LakerTom
  3 weeks, 3 days ago
  
  MJ is actually correct. GOAT is a temporary position that changes as the sport and talent gets more sophisiticated and elite.
  
  MJ was the GOAT until LeBron came along. Now LeBron is the GOAT but you can see that Wemby will at some point eclipse him. Then there will come somebody who will surpass Wemby. Nobody can be the GOAT because it changes.
  - Buba Touray
    3 weeks, 3 days ago
    
    Wemby is going to be even scarier. I just don’t know how long he is going to last in the league.

LakerTom
3 weeks, 4 days ago

It’s pathetic for the NBA that JJ is not a leading candidate for Coach of the Year. ESPN model had the Lakers winning 36 games, everyone talked about them being a play in team.Then the convo shifted to “no way the Big 3 can fit/play together”.Lakers might win 55 games,…— Lars (@LakeShowLars) March 28, 2026
LakerTom
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Basketball fans, be honest. Who deserves to win the MVP award this season, remove all bias and who is actually the most valuable to their team. pic.twitter.com/Gmm4yj7UoI— Mod (@CFCMods) March 29, 2026
- DJ2KB24
  3 weeks, 4 days ago
  
  Flip a coin.
- Buba Touray
  3 weeks, 4 days ago
  
  LAKERS AWARD BIAS ISN’T JUST REAL — IT’S ON FULL DISPLAY THIS SEASON.
  
  Let’s lay it out plainly:
  
  – Projected win total: 46.5
  – ESPN’s own model: 36 wins
  – Actual record: 48–26… and climbing
  – Top‑5 record in the entire NBA
  – JJ Redick: not even top 9 in Coach of the Year odds
  – Luka Doncic: 34/8/8 and somehow 4th in MVP race
  
  If this isn’t bias, what is?
  
  JJ Redick walked into a situation everyone said was doomed. “The Big 3 can’t fit.” “They’ll be a play‑in team.” “The roster doesn’t make sense.” Every talking head had their punchline ready.
  
  And yet here we are — the Lakers are not just winning, they’re thriving. They’re disciplined, connected, defending, sharing the ball, and playing with a belief that wasn’t there a few months ago. That doesn’t happen by accident. That’s coaching. That’s leadership. That’s culture.
  
  JJ didn’t inherit a perfect roster — he built a system. He empowered role players. He unlocked Luka and LeBron together. He stabilized the rotation. He turned noise into fuel. And now the Lakers might finish with 55 wins, something not a single national outlet predicted.
  
  But somehow… he’s not a Coach of the Year frontrunner?
  
  Come on.
  
  And Luka — what more does the man have to do? He’s putting up video‑game numbers while carrying the emotional and strategic load of a franchise that completely reinvented itself midseason. Remove him from this team and the Lakers aren’t sniffing the top 5. That’s the definition of value.
  
  So let’s be honest, basketball fans — not biased, not narrative‑driven, not agenda‑pushed. Just honest.
  
  Who has been more valuable to their team than Luka Doncic this season?
  Who has done more with less preseason respect than JJ Redick?
  Who has flipped a franchise’s trajectory more dramatically than this Lakers group?
  
  The answer is obvious to anyone actually watching the games.
  
  The Lakers didn’t just exceed expectations — they obliterated them.
  And the people responsible deserve recognition, not excuses.
  
  This season is proving something powerful:
  When the Lakers are great, the bar gets moved.
  When others are great, the bar gets lowered.
  
  But greatness speaks for itself.
  And right now, the Lakers are speaking loudly.

LakerTom
3 weeks, 4 days ago

FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:

Suddenly, the Lakers can trust the center position to produce quality nightly results.

The Los Angeles Lakers spent the better part of the 2025-26 season struggling to create stability at the center position. Starter Deandre Ayton provided offensive value but struggled on defense, and Jaxson Hayes offered contributions that fluctuated in their quality.

With Ayton publicly committing to sacrificing for the team and accepting his role, and Hayes becoming a consistent source of two-way quality, however, the Lakers are evolving.

Hayes has been a breath of fresh air for the Lakers over the past month, taking his game to another level on both ends of the floor. He played just 17.4 minutes per game between his first 41 appearances, averaging 6.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.4 offensive rebounds, and 0.6 blocks.

Hayes is playing 19.5 minutes per game over his past 21 appearances, however, increasing his averages to 8.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 offensive rebounds, and 1.1 blocks.

Those may not seem like drastic increases on the surface, but to make jumps across the board in just 2.1 extra minutes is a fair reflection of what the film has revealed. Hayes has become more assertive on offense, more aggressive on defense, and has even averaged more than 20 minutes per game over the past 12 outings.

The past five games have revealed just how capable Hayes truly is of not only improving his output, but helping to stabilize the center position.

Center is suddenly a strength as Jaxson Hayes steps up for Lakers

Hayes began his recent stretch of success with six points, five rebounds, three offensive boards, and two blocks in a win over the Miami Heat. He followed that showing with eight points, seven rebounds, two offensive boards, and three blocks against the Orlando Magic.

Hayes then tallied 11 points, three rebounds, two offensive boards, one assist, four blocks, and two steals against All-Star big Jalen Duren and the Detroit Pistons.

That was enough for Lakers fans to see signs of progress that created an inevitable surge in optimism. What Hayes did next, however, blew everyone’s minds. He dropped 21 points, 10 rebounds, two offensive rebounds, one assist, two blocks, and two steals in a rare start against the Indiana Pacers. It was far above his typical level of play or production.

The next time out, Hayes proved it wasn’t a fluke with 10 points, eight rebounds, two offensive rebounds, one assist, and five blocks.

Lakers suddenly have depth at a position that was once uncertain

Though it’s important to look past stats, the Lakers have struggled to generate any kind of consistent production from the second unit in 2025-26. To now have a source of it at a position that was once perceived as a weakness has completely redefined their outlook.

That’s translated to the fact that the Lakers have a team-best net rating of +11.3 when Hayes is on the court since Feb. 1.

With Hayes stepping up as the backup and Ayton embracing the need for playing with more energy and intensity, Los Angeles has taken a clear step forward. It’s won 14 of its past 16 games and can attribute at least some degree of its success to its newfound stability at center.

Only time will tell if Ayton and Hayes can translate their success to the playoffs, but if they can, the Lakers will be able to legitimately compete for a championship.
- LakerTom
  3 weeks, 4 days ago
  
  JAXSON HAYES TURNING INTO SHOT BLOCKER!Last 1: 10.0/8.0/1.0 + 0.0 stl & 5.0 blk in 26.1 mpgLast 5: 11.2/6.6/0/8 + 0.8 stl & 3.2 blk in 24.1 mpgLast 10: 7.8/5.0/0.6 + 0.8 stl & 2.1 blk in 20.8 mpgLast 16: 8.1/4.9/0.8 + 0.6 stl & 1.4 blk in 20.5 mpgFirst 58: 6.8/3.9/0.9 +… https://t.co/ASxgoLGABX pic.twitter.com/v0zyzwakYZ— LakerTom (@LakerTom) March 29, 2026
- Buba Touray
  3 weeks, 4 days ago
  
  Great post, Tom!
LakerTom
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Lakers look smarter by the day as the ideal big man to pair with Luka Doncic emerges https://t.co/28yEs0EVdg— LakerTom (@LakerTom) March 29, 2026
- LakerTom
  3 weeks, 4 days ago
  
  FROM ABOVE ARTICLE:
  
  Jaxson Hayes is making the Lakers look genius.
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers are watching Jaxson Hayes become the ideal big man to pair with Luka Doncic, and it cost the franchise nothing to acquire him because he was already on their roster. Number 77 wanted a rim protector and a lob threat from the moment he arrived in LA. The Lakers tried to trade for Mark Williams, but a failed physical nixed the deal. Fans have questioned Ayton’s fit all season, but Hayes is becoming the ideal partner.
  
  The Lakers have won 14 of their last 16 games and look like a serious title threat. Luka is playing like the MVP, and Hayes is having his own mini breakout during that stretch. The seven-footer averaged 8.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 20.6 minutes per game. He has given head coach JJ Redick an option if Ayton is struggling, and fans know Hayes will finish everything Doncic and the Lakers lob up.
  
  Hayes is becoming a trusted option at the five. He has blocked a shot in six straight games and is shooting 75 percent from the field over that stretch. The Lakers nearly gave up two first-round draft picks for Mark Williams when a strong option was already on their bench, just awaiting his opportunity.
  
  Lakers look genius as Jaxson Hayes quietly becomes Luka Doncic’s ideal partner
  
  Hayes came to Los Angeles in 2023 and has made just over $8 million total in three seasons. The former eighth overall draft pick flamed out in New Orleans and got a fresh start with the Lakers. Nobody knew he would be catching lobs from Luka and trying to play for the Slovenian National Team. The Lakers wanted a backup big with potential, and Hayes is finally fully realizing it.
  
  Fans know Luka is at his best with a true center on the floor. He had Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford during the Mavericks’ NBA Finals run in 2024. Ayton is slowly buying into his role, but he still struggles to consistently attack the rim. Hayes doesn’t have that problem.
  
  Between Ayton and Hayes, the Lakers are getting 48 minutes of quality play at the five. They must keep it up throughout the playoffs if LA wants to make a deep run. Coach Redick has the defense locked in and should be trying to maximize the production of his three stars as the postseason approaches. Everybody has to work together, and Hayes is quickly become an X-factor.
  
  Fans may point to Hayes’ lack of rebounds as a concern, but the Lakers have Luka, LeBron, and Austin Reaves to gobble up boards. The Lakers are picking up the slack for the big man’s weakness, which is a welcome sight.
  
  The Los Angeles Lakers have the perfect big man to pair with Luka Doncic on their roster. Jaxson Hayes has been fantastic and keeps getting better. The Lakers look smart for the rescinded Mark Williams trade and not panicking. Hayes is making that faith pay off, and fans will have to stay tuned to see what’s next from the 25-year-old big man.

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