LeBron James has spent two decades making the extraordinary look routine, and now he is about to begin a 24th NBA season. That alone has kept the basketball world locked in on him, especially during a free-agency stretch that had the league waiting on his next move.
ESPN reported that James told the Lakers they could move on without him, with Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul relaying the news to Shams Charania. James then decided to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers, a move ESPN described as his final run at another NBA championship. According to Dave McMenamin, the deal is a two-year, $8 million contract with a player option.
Even with all of that attention around his longevity, Charles Barkley isn’t buying every part of the celebration. On Bill Simmons’ podcast, he took direct aim at the idea that James is somehow beating Father Time.
“We have to be honest about LeBron. Just because you’re putting up good numbers don’t mean you’re being affective. - People say he’s defying the odds but if my memory serves me correctly, he’s gotten swept in the playoffs the last couple of years. - LeBron is playing well but to say he’s beating Father Time, they got swept the last two years in the playoffs so don’t tell me how great he’s playing,” Barkley said on Bill Simmons’ podcast.
That pushback comes down to the split between what the modern game rewards and what ultimately matters in the biggest moments. James has still produced at a high level, but Barkley pointed to the recent playoff results as the counterargument.
The point Barkley was making was clear: impressive numbers are one thing, but the postseason has told a different story. He also noted that James is entering a new phase of his career as he gets older, and he wasn’t shy about saying so.
In Other News...
Lakers New Luka Era Already Comes With One Big Roster Debate
The Lakers are trying to make the most of a summer of change, with several new additions on the roster as the franchise moves deeper into the Luka Doncic era after LeBron James departure. The early work has shifted to chemistry rather than big declarations, and the teams minicamp in Slovenia has offered a first look at how the pieces might fit once the season begins.
Sasa Doncic has taken a measured view of the overhaul, saying he is curious to see how the group comes together while expressing cautious optimism about the offseason work. The bigger question, though, is the one hovering over every new-look roster in Los Angeles: whether all this movement actually raises the team high enough to chase a title, or whether the Lakers are still waiting to find the right answer. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers May Have To Sacrifice A Young Asset To Fix One Big Hole
The Lakers still have a clear roster question to answer after missing out on Jonathan Kuminga, and it is the kind of issue that can shape the rest of their offseason. They need a starting power forward, and the search has pushed them into some familiar trade territory, with Jarred Vanderbilt and Dalton Knecht both coming up in conversations as the front office looks for a way to balance immediate help with longer-term value.
Sacramento has entered the picture as well, with a possible deal that would bring DeAndre Hunter into the mix. For now, though, Los Angeles is still trying to find the right solution for that spot before the new season arrives, and the fact that young players are already being floated tells you how serious the Lakers are about fixing one of their biggest holes. [Read more 🡒]
Lakers Frontcourt Overhaul Could Give JJ Redick An Early Problem
The Lakers have spent the offseason reshaping their frontcourt, bringing in Walker Kessler from the Jazz in a deal that involved future draft picks and adding Sandro Mamukelashvili on a four-year contract. It is a clear signal that Los Angeles wants more size and more flexibility around the basket, with Kessler widely expected to open the year as the starting center.
For JJ Redick, the early question is how quickly those pieces fit together once the games start counting. Kessler and Mamukelashvili give the Lakers a new look up front, but the bigger issue may be whether they can share the floor in a way that works for the rest of the rotation, so the team will be watching their chemistry closely before settling on the best lineup mix. [Read more 🡒]