LeBron James is already recruiting free agents to help save Lakers
LeBron James isn’t wasting any time trying to improve the Lakers.
With the chaos in the Lakers’ front office finally over, their star playing is getting to work recruiting potential free agents. He has already had contact with the Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard and the 76ers’ Jimmy Butler about joining him in LA, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
“I don’t think LeBron is in position to be too picky,” Windhorst said on “Pardon the Interruption” on Thursday. “From what I understand he has already begun the recruiting process. I’ve heard he’s had contact with Kawhi Leonard. I’ve heard he’s had contact with Jimmy Butler. There is no tampering enforcement by players and while Magic Johnson, the guy who got in trouble for tampering before, is no longer there LeBron is tamperer-in-chief for the Lakers right now.”
The Lakers, who own the fourth pick in the draft after going 37-45 in James’ first season with the team, saw plenty of upheaval in their front office. Johnson abruptly stepped down as team president and accused general manager Rob Pelinka of talking behind his back. Pelinka fired coach Luke Walton after three seasons and replaced him with Frank Vogel.
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Windhorst is unsure if James will be able to get past the franchise’s shortcomings and help land the team a big-time free agent this offseason.
“I don’t know if texts and maybe a dinner with LeBron is enough for the Lakers to overcome the hurdles they are gonna have,” Windhorst said.
He stated the “door is unlocked” for a James reunion with former Cavaliers teammate Kyrie Irving and the Lakers might get a meeting, but the possibly soon-to-be-ex-Celtics star is still more likely to follow rising free agent Kevin Durant — which could bode well for the Knicks.
“From everything I heard, Kyrie’s relationship with Kevin Durant has never been stronger,” Windhorst said. “And while he’s repaired and reopened his relationship with LeBron, I think if you want to know where Kyrie’s gonna go, watch Kevin Durant.”