Lakers' True Feelings About LeBron James's Future With Team Revealed

At least we now have a more clear answer.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been working their way back from a very inconsistent season so far. It has caused a lot of frustration around the organization and has even led to the thought that star LeBron James could leave at the end of the season.

James has a player option that he is able to decline, leading to the speculation. Adding in the fact that Los Angeles hasn't lived up to their championship aspirations, at least not yet, many believe that James could seek his final years elsewhere.

However, it seems that James may end up with the Lakers for the long haul. Not only did he refuse to ask for a trade at the trade deadline when he could have gotten out, but the Lakers' preference is for James to retire as a member of the team. 

"Meanwhile, the Lakers maintain that they have no intention of trading James, according to multiple team sources. Their preference is for James to retire with the Lakers — a stance that a high-ranked team source reiterated to

The Athletic

Wednesday."

Per Sam Amick, Anthony Slater, Jovan Buha

For all of their ineffectiveness in different areas, the Lakers do understand how to take care of their star players. James seems to be the next in line, and they are looking to make him as comfortable as possible. 

He has been with the team since 2018, making his run in Los Angeles longer than with the Miami Heat at this point. James also has family living out in L.A., something he may not want to uproot again.

Both sides seem headed for an extension to continue their partnership, but the Lakers will need to show James that they can field a winning team. They plan to go after a third star player this offseason, a move that could keep James happy.

He is arguably the greatest player of all time while still playing at a high level. It's no wonder why the Lakers want to keep him around, so they should do whatever it takes to have him hang it up in the purple and gold.