[Windhorst]: Lakers ownership informed Luka they were selling; did not inform LeBron

[Mamba Mentality]

I’ve been out on Lebron for a couple seasons now, but to no one’s surprise Jeanie wanted to squeeze every last drop out of the lemon. Hopefully there is some truth to these reports and this is the new leaderships ploy to get him to waive his NTC, I 100% back that decision.

[lakerz12]

They’re probably hoping LeBron will get pissed and leave. Please, leave.

[jokeboy86]

Windhorst has become unbearable. He also claimed Lakers will end up with multiple centers at the start of the free agency and some other stuff. I think most of what he's saying is a "clickbait". Ever since Lebron called him out he's become a drama queen.

People got to understand the NBA is not worth talking about all year long(no sport is) but ESPN has paid a ton of money for the sports rights for the NBA so if their reporters and talking head shows have to make up stories or parse every single thing that NBA stars(or their sons) say or do they will do it. All in the hopes that by constantly talking about the NBA and its rumors that it will get more people to care about it all the time to justify the exorbitant amount they paid.

Shams and Windhorst have to do this to justify their salary so if you see them dragging stories out as if they were squeezing water from a stone it's cause ESPN is telling them to if they don't want a pay cut. What helps make their jobs easier is that for the most part most stars and teams don't come out with statements completely refuting their reports which would ultimately kill the stores. Imagine if Lebron came out today and said everything Windhorst said in his last article is false or if Giannis said that Shams reporting has been wrong since day one? You could close a bakery with how much pie would be all over their faces. Stars and teams ignoring media reports keeps the media busy and in business.

[Jordan45822]

They are stuck together this year so both sides will get over it.

No contending team wants to trade for his salary & pretty sure a buyout is completely out of the question for both Lebron & LA

[Mavrelous]

Windhorst is a POS, he pulled some nasty stuff when Luka was a Mav.

[Vae Victus]

They are stuck together this year so both sides will get over it.

No contending team wants to trade for his salary & pretty sure a buyout is completely out of the question for both Lebron & LA

Not true. I’m sure LeBron would love a buyout as long as he’s not painted the bad guy in forcing his way out thus sullying his reputation. He gets his money and ringchases. Lakers aren’t gonna let that happen. Gonna go down with the ship.

[-Luke-]

Why does Windhorst still bootlick LeBron all the time after LeBron ridiculed him on that one podcast? Does this guy have some self-respect?

[doogie_hauser]

Windhorst is a POS, he pulled some nasty stuff when Luka was a Mav.

Jonah Hill deserves better than have an annoying doppelganger like Windbag !

Regardless, he isn't the only one reporting that Lakers management isn't treating LeBron with as much respect as he probably deserves (least my observations from afar)

[jbk1234]

The situation is what it is. The Lakers were probably hoping LBJ would opt out and take less money. He didn't. I'm sure they'd like to move him for value but he has a NTC, and frankly makes too much money. They weren't going to build around a 40 year old LBJ before the Luka trade and the Luka trade just sealed it.

[ball_takes23]

They are stuck together this year so both sides will get over it.

No contending team wants to trade for his salary & pretty sure a buyout is completely out of the question for both Lebron & LA

Not true. I’m sure LeBron would love a buyout as long as he’s not painted the bad guy in forcing his way out thus sullying his reputation. He gets his money and ringchases. Lakers aren’t gonna let that happen. Gonna go down with the ship.

buyout would be the ideal scenario for him. not only does he still get paid, the new team he goes to would still be able to compete since they wouldnt have to give up $50M+ in value to trade for him. Lakers have no incentive to do that though. They are probably stuck with each other for the rest of the year.

[Lalouie]

Completely agreed - Lebron is going out BAD. A bitter, touchy old man who is going to want the red carpet rolled out wherever he goes

It is tiresome.

He should have called it quits after he passed Kareem.

The Lakers do profit hugely on LeBron’s name. I don’t think they hate his presence, but it’s not uncomfortable enough to end the relationship.

the lakers have always been on ALL their superstars' side - so they will let LEBRON choose when to part ways
hell they'll prolly hire bronny in the org if he so chooses

[CobraCommander]

It is tiresome.

He should have called it quits after he passed Kareem.

The Lakers do profit hugely on LeBron’s name. I don’t think they hate his presence, but it’s not uncomfortable enough to end the relationship.

the lakers have always been on ALL their superstars' side - so they will let LEBRON choose when to part ways
hell they'll prolly hire bronny in the org if he so chooses

I agree but New ownership could ruin that -

I just don’t see how these is any upside to treating LeBron or Luka any differently.

Essentially - What they do to LeBron today they will do to Luka tomorrow.

I think it’s fair to say now that Luka will never be the player LeBron was at his peak so if he sees the lakers treating LeBron bad it may cause him to leave.

[Johnny Bball]

They didn't tell Luka they were selling until it was basically on the way to signing the documents, or right after. They likely couldn't get in touch with Lebron because they told his representation instead. And within likely minutes it was made public.

This means nothing.

And quite frankly, its pretty entitled to think either must be notified.

[Gus McCrae]

This is all speculation but If you’re selling a company, you wouldn’t generally tell your employees as they can jeopardize the sale. Maybe they told Luka because the new regime wanted to gauge if an ownership change would affect his decision to re-sign as that would affect the valuation in negotiations. If Luka said “I only stay if Jeannie stays” that would’ve tanked the sale price so the buying party would probably want to know in advance if Luka cared. Lebrons timeline is known so there’s no reason to run it by him. Luka could have 10+ years left. Buyers still don’t know if he stays that’s part of the risk but I’m guessing he didn’t say I’m not staying.

[Chokic]

We are ready to move on from him , im excited tbh...give us Jarett Allen and lets jus move on

Trading James to Cavs is complicated. Not even sure he has value to convince Cavs to do it.

He’d comfortably be the best player on the Cavs. The trade mechanisms are complicated as there are no significant cap space teams to work with either.

No he wouldnt.

[Chokic]

Even tho on the surface it seems lakers did lebron dirty..LeBron did no favors for lakers either by opting into his contract. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too.

[druggas]

Maybe he'll threaten to leave. I'll chip in for the Uber to the airport.

[Lalouie]

The Lakers do profit hugely on LeBron’s name. I don’t think they hate his presence, but it’s not uncomfortable enough to end the relationship.

the lakers have always been on ALL their superstars' side - so they will let LEBRON choose when to part ways
hell they'll prolly hire bronny in the org if he so chooses

I agree but New ownership could ruin that -

I just don’t see how these is any upside to treating LeBron or Luka any differently.

Essentially - What they do to LeBron today they will do to Luka tomorrow.

I think it’s fair to say now that Luka will never be the player LeBron was at his peak so if he sees the lakers treating LeBron bad it may cause him to leave.

i don't think the euro superstars like moving. wellll, i don't think any superstars like moving, which lol is one of the many reasons why lebron irks me to the core.

all the situations with lebron are never simple always complicated. lal just has to BE FAIR, and imo nothing is ever fair if it goes lebron's way....that is the power he holds. this thing with his reflection on the lack of nuance of luka is total BS - it just means he didn't like that he was out of the loop

they will treat luka well.

[Slimjimzv]

Absolutely gutted for Lebron? They've given this idiot everything he's asked for, and the team was on the verge of mediocrity death because of it, when they fell backwards into Luka. Maybe he'll let you wipe your tears with his hundreds of millions of dollars.

[PistolPeteJR]

The Rockets did a sign and trade with Hakeem after only offering him 13M. I can’t feel too bad for Lebron for making over 50M and not getting advanced notice of the sale. It makes sense for the Lakers to prioritize the younger star over the older star, just like how they did with Shaq and Kobe.

This doesn’t mean anything. They can pivot, that makes sense. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t have informed LeBron and his camp too. That has nothing to do with prioritization and everything to do with respect.

I think they informed Luka before LeBron, but in any case, a player doesn’t need to be told ahead of time before ownership changes, especially when that player doesn’t fit into the ownership’s long term plans.

Again, considering the superstar LeBron is, the champion that he is with this organization as well, and the relationship they’ve had up until Luka landed in LA, yes, they do owe it to him.