LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers may be at an impasse early during the free agency period.
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that there “hasn’t been much communication” between the two parties recently.
The franchise must develop a winning strategy during the offseason to take another step forward on the path to a championship with Luka Doncic as the focal point.
James has won four NBA championships during his career, bringing at least one to every team he's played for (Miami in 2012 and 2013; Cleveland in 2016; Los Angeles in 2020).
The Lakers were swept 4-0 by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals back in mid-May. James showed a glimpse of his younger self during the postseason, but it wasn’t going to be enough with Doncic out due to an injury.
There was a growing sense that James, a four-time Finals MVP, would factor into that plan for the upcoming season.
"There was a check-in call made, to my understanding, early in free agency once teams were able to start negotiating with their own free agents after the end of the NBA Finals," Charania said. "Since then, though, there hasn't been much communication between the Lakers and LeBron James' side. And certainly not an offer yet."
While there had been some discussion about James' future, including retirement, all indications point to the 41-year-old returning for his 24th season.
The future Hall of Famer averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds in 60 games played last season.
"Let's talk about LeBron James' leverage," said Brian Windhorst on ESPN's "First Take." “Who is coming to offer LeBron James a big contract? Nobody. There are a bunch of teams that want him; the Lakers are essentially bidding against themselves.”
The Lakers will have to take a stance on what they would like to do with James, who is expected to have a $57.75 million cap hold. James was paid $52.6 million this past season on the final year of his contract.
The team would already have had to account for the cap hold while talking through different scenarios that would include bringing Austin Reaves back.
Reaves’ represents and the Lakers reportedly came to terms on a four-year, $185 million max contract.
Teams were allowed to begin negotiations on new contracts with their own upcoming free agents upon the conclusion of the NBA Finals. Agreements between free agents and their most recent team (or any other team) cannot become official until the free agency window fully opens on June 30th at 6 p.m. ET.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lakers, LeBron James rumors ahead of free agency signal LA slow play
