Los Angeles Lakers: 3 takeaways from 2019 NBA offseason
3. LeBron and the Lakers are not the top option for star players
In 2010 the Miami Heat kicked off a new era in star player movement when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh teamed up to win titles. They made four straight NBA Finals, won two championships and established James as the indisputable best player in the game.
Since star players have begun to change teams more frequently than ever before in the history of the league. Many changed teams in unrestricted free agency, such as Kevin Durant or Gordon Hayward.
Others began to agitate for a trade a year or more ahead of their free agency, pressuring a team to move them and retain some assets; that would apply to Paul George, Jimmy Butler or Dwight Howard.
Since Howard, however, it is interesting to note that no star player has chosen the Los Angeles Lakers. That is in large part due to their lack of success over that period, missing the postseason for the past six seasons.
When the Lakers even got a sit down with a max-level free agent they were dismissed as a serious option.
That seemed to change last season when James signed with the team, bringing a huge star presence to the organization.
Yet he has had problems attracting star-level talent himself, pushing away Kyrie Irving (although who can follow Irving’s impulses?) and unable to attract a second star last summer. Paul George re-signed in Oklahoma City rather than even sit down with his hometown Lakers.
This summer proved that the right star may still want to be on the Lakers, as Anthony Davis was obvious about his preferred destination. Yet even though the front office cleared space for a max free agent no one else came.
Kawhi Leonard chose the crosstown LA Clippers, adding salt to the wound when he landed George to play with him. Kevin Durant and Irving chose Brooklyn, Butler Miami.
Even the Lakers “backup options” in Kemba Walker and D’Angelo Russell chose the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors respectively.
As James ages and his particular brand of leadership is known throughout the league, it appears the level of contention being his teammate brings is not worth it to many players around the league, especially young stars looking to establish their own footprint.
Perhaps James and the Lakers can rehabilitate their image over the next few years.