Lakers insider urges JJ Redick to make $104M LeBron James role change to fix major weakness

The Los Angeles Lakers are starting to get on a roll, winning six consecutive games after defeating the Houston Rockets on Monday night. As the playoffs draw closer, the Lakers are beginning to look like a legitimate contender. This is exactly the type of situation LeBron James wanted to be in at this stage of his career.

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we've had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”

James has faced some challenges adjusting to his new role at times, but he is starting to figure it out. For him, it’s all about winning and doing whatever the team needs.

“If it benefits others, it benefits the team. The team is most important. … So yeah, it is a sacrifice. I know what I'm capable of still doing as an individual, but what's important for this team, I'm able to adapt to … And that's the only thing that matters,” James told the media.

If it truly is all about the team, James shouldn’t have any issues sharing the court with the second unit.

“The way Redick could format things is to have the team roll out its typical starting five, then have LeBron be the first player to sub out around the four-minute mark. From then on, when the second unit starts checking in, LeBron would come back in and share the court with the likes of Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, Luke Kennard, and Jaxson Hayes. This second unit lacks playmaking and a consistent decision-maker, which is where LeBron could help take the group to the next level,” Lake Show Life’s Chris Lambert wrote.

This could be a smart move for head coach JJ Redick, as it would also allow James to take control of the offense for stretches. While James is willing to defer scoring when necessary, this adjustment would give him more opportunities to stay aggressive.

The Lakers are still working through their rotations, but they are playing some of their best basketball right now. A change like this could prove to be more beneficial than disruptive as they continue their push toward the postseason.

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