Lakers Trade Rumors: LA aggressively pursuing first major offseason deal

If the most recent Lakers trade rumors are to be believed, General Manager Rob Pelinka is already hard at work on “Plan Keep LeBron James in Los Angeles.”

The franchise is reportedly willing to offer James a maximum three-year, $164 million extension that would run through his age-42 season and to select his son, Bronny James, in the 2024 NBA Draft. The Lakers want LeBron back “on any terms he wants,” per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin (h/t NBC Sports):

The Lakers intend to have LeBron James come back on any term that he wants to, whether that be a one-year, two-year, three-year deal, whatever. They’d love to continue to have LeBron James in the purple and gold until he calls it quits, whenever that may be.

But Pelinka isn’t waiting around for the four-time MVP to decide his future. He’s already digging into his asset chest and preparing to make the first big splash of the offseason.

Lakers trade rumors: LA dangling 17th pick in 2024 NBA Draft

The team got a healthy and productive season from both James and Anthony Davis, a rarity in the past few seasons and something that isn’t guaranteed to happen again. If LeBron is going to stay in Los Angeles and have a legitimate shot at winning his fifth NBA title, the Lakers are going to need to upgrade the roster around their two superstars.

Per Jovan Buha of The Athletic (h/t Bleacher Report), Pelinka is ready to be “aggressive” and empty his draft pick cupboard to make that happen.

Through the Davis trade, the New Orleans Pelicans have the choice to take LA’s first-round pick in either 2024 or 2025, but given where it lands in this year’s draft and the fact that the 2025 class is far superior to 2024’s, New Orleans will likely defer and take next summer’s selection.

That gives the Lakers up to three first-round picks to use in any trade this offseason, and it appears Pelinka is ready to part with at least this year’s if it means upgrading the roster to lure LeBron back to LA.

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