Over the last couple of weeks, there has been some chatter about LeBron James’ immediate future with the Los Angeles Lakers. Two teams, including the Golden State Warriors, reportedly tried to trade for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer just before the trade deadline, only to be rebuffed.
James can opt out of his contract this summer and become a free agent, which has led to speculation as to whether he is in his final months as a member of the Lakers.
Hall of Fame guard Gary Payton, who played one season for the Purple and Gold, believes the 39-year-old is going to stay put with the team.
Via Yahoo Sports:
“LeBron did what he wanted — [what] he was supposed to. He said, ‘I’m staying where I’m at,’” Payton told Yahoo Sports right before All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis.
“He’s been traveling too many times, been to Cleveland, you know. He been to Miami, went back to Cleveland. This is his last stop, man.”
“… LeBron is not going nowhere. L.A. is his city right now, his town,” Payton said. “Kobe [Bryant] is really … it’s Kobe’s city. But LeBron is taking over now.”
The Lakers struggled during the first half of this season, and James himself contributed to the talk about his future with a cryptic tweet after one of their many inexcusable losses to inferior teams.
But they have now won six of their last seven games and 11 of their last 16. It is starting to look like they’re poised for the type of late-season run they had last year when they recovered from a 2-10 start to reach the Western Conference Finals.
James is averaging 24.8 points, 7.8 assists and 7.2 rebounds a game while shooting a high percentage from the field and from 3-point range this season. If he remains relatively healthy, he may have plenty left in his tank beyond this season.
Rich Paul, James’ agent, recently said the 39-year-old “is committed to the Lakers.”
