There were disheartening rumors over the relationship between LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers' front office all offseason. Reports say that the Lakers weren't quite comfortable over the rumor that James, or his agent Rich Paul, had much control over the team.
It cost them Ty Lue, who was already there for the length of James' contract. This conflict had apparently affected the team so much. After all, basketball teams and their superstars should work together to ensure a potential win each season.
But it seems as though there have been changes. Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans is officially under a Lakers' contract. This is due mostly to James' recruitment, both of whom were key players in building the Lakers' new roster. Rob Pelinka on Sunday talked to the media and explained the whole ordeal.
"We view our relationships here with our star players here as partnerships. I know both Anthony and LeBron are excited about the 14 guys and how we are going to come together, and their input, both of their input, Anthony and LeBron, has been incredibly valuable to me."," Pelinka said.
Looking at the roster, what Pelinka said appears to be true. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, like James and Davis, is a Klutch Sports client, and the word is that the Lakers have kept him for three years for that reason alone. DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo were both with the Pelicans with Davis, and he has nothing but praises for the two players. Quinn Cook revealed that James called Pelinka on his behalf after signing. The Lakers managed to secure the top players in the NBA, and both of them showed the proper understanding as to what kinds of players will show their great potential once they're on the team.
This offseason, the Lakers eyed incredibly specific archetypes, including defenders, shooters, and big men with upside. This is apparently to protect AD from playing too much at center, and they want to get the floor ready for their star players. To become one of the top teams in the NBA, teams need to arm themselves with the right skills to be able to play well on both sides of the ball. The Lakers are a good example of a diverse team, with players across the positional spectrum beneficial to their win.
Whether the Lakers make it to the championship we're yet to see, but for now, it sure likes the team is heading in the right path.
