Newly eligible Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James and his agent Rich Paul met with team president Rob Pelinka today at the team’s El Segundo practice facility to discuss their futures, Dave McMenamin reports of ESPN. In remarks to McMenamin, Paul called the discussion “productive.” The Lakers could now sign James to a two-year, $97.1 million extension that would keep the 19-year veteran under contract with Los Angeles through the 2024-25 season. McMenamin adds that James may decide to sign a one-season extension with a player option for a second year. That way, LeBron can sign with any club that drafts his son Brony James when the younger James becomes eligible for the draft during the 2024 offseason. Here are some other notes from the Western Conference:
The Lakers seem reluctant to trade players with years left on their contracts, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. Woike believes the front office would be more amenable to acquiring players with longer deals if James chooses to sign an extension that would keep him in LA beyond 2023. Jazz assistant coach Alex Jensen is set to serve as the head coach of Team USA for the 2022 AmeriCup next month, USA Basketball announced in a press release. Steve Wojciechowski, Marquette head coach, and Mike Williams, head coach of the Wizards’ NBAGL affiliate (the Capital City Go-Go), will serve as assistants under Jensen. “I am honored to have the opportunity to coach the 2022 USA AmeriCup Team and look forward to working with Mike and Steve as well as a talented group of players,” Jensen said of his new NBA offseason gig. “I have always enjoyed my time with USA Basketball and am excited to be selected for my first coaching assignment.” Sarah Todd of the Deseret News notes that Jensen was originally hired as an assistant to former Utah coach Quin Snyder in 2013, but will remain under new coach Will Hardy this season.
