Lakers’ LeBron James contract reality could cause Los Angeles to seek other options

The Los Angeles Lakers need to improve on both sides of the basketball, and this offseason will give them a good opportunity to do so. 

The problem for the Lakers, however, is the fact that they might want to keep LeBron James around, and that could come at a high price. Not that James is a bad player at this stage of his career, but he might not be the perfect option on a championship-caliber team like the Lakers.

The one problem for the Lakers is how expensive James could be, and their inability to sign other free agents as a result, according to Brian Windhorst.

"Every dollar [the Lakers] give to LeBron, they can't give to another free agent," Windhorst said. "But there has to be a number in there that respects LeBron, and that gives the Lakers a chance to still improve their roster. And I believe they'll get there. But it may not happen until June 30. We could have three weeks of posturing between now and then."

While I understand what Windhorst is saying here, and he makes sense, let's say the Lakers don't keep him and decide to sign some average-type players like Luke Kennard, Jake LaRavia, and other moves we've seen them make in the past. 

In that scenario, it really doesn't make sense to move on from James. Now, if the Lakers are trying to go after another superstar and can do so because they don't have James' money on the books, I can get on board with this.

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