Want to hold a Kobe-style retirement tour, James is rejected for a contract renewal! Pelinka: Will give absolute respect

Meiji revealed that James wanted to hold a Kobe-style retirement tour, but he was rejected when he sought to renew his contract with the Lakers during the offseason. Lakers general manager Pelinka publicly stated that he would give him absolute respect. After James seeking a contract renewal was rejected, he was executing a $56.2 million player option in the offseason, James confirmed that he would usher in his 23rd year in the NBA in the new season. Unlike before, this is the first time in his career that James has fulfilled a "expiring contract."

As the most career-oriented superstar in NBA history, James frequently signed 1+1 contracts during his peak period to ensure the flexibility of choosing the next home to force his team to do his best to strengthen.

But when he became a free agent three times in his career, James held the player option, and this time it was the first time that James did not receive an early renewal after exercising the player option.

Such a different situation has also caused diverse speculations within the league about James' future. Among them, Yaron Weitzman, a senior reporter of the US media "BR", wrote an article to disclose some of the details, pointing out that James had sought an early contract renewal this summer, but was rejected by the Lakers.

Yaron Weitzman revealed that James had hoped to reach an early contract renewal with the Lakers during the offseason, but the latter was not interested in this.

Several sources within the league revealed that James hopes to reach a 1+1 contract with the Lakers, but the Lakers refuse to provide such a contract, which puts James in a difficult situation for the first time in his career.

Wanting Kobe-style retirement tour

In addition to the refusal of James' hope to complete an early contract renewal, Yaron Weitzman also revealed that an internal league executive revealed to him that James wants Kobe-style retirement tour, rather than retire directly like Jordan.

"He wanted to get a grand farewell tour, but the problem now is that he was in a situation where he couldn't get everything he wanted. He had no bargaining chips here (the Lakers), and he was not used to it."

The anonymous executive admitted that most agents and executives in the league generally believed that if James focused so much on retirement tour, returning to the Cavaliers would be almost the only option, because James cared about such narratives that could save face.

However, considering the Cavaliers' lineup configuration, James cannot get the big contract he wants if he wants to return to the Cavaliers.

Pellinka: Will give absolute respect

Faced with the noise from the outside, Lakers general manager Pelinka said in a public interview that the team will give James absolute respect and are willing to see James retire as a Lakers player.

Asked how to view James as a player with an expiration contract for the first time in his career?

Pellinka said that before discussing this issue, what he wanted to say was that the team would give him absolute respect and let him and his family choose how to carry out this story and decide how many more years he would play. Obviously, he had won this right and he was qualified to decide how many more years he would play.

However, our signing goals this summer are very clear, and we are all looking for puzzle players around Doncic and James. This is our team building goal.

As for the initial question, the most important thing is how long he wants to play. We will choose to respect and let him speak out on his own.

Since Pelinka did not give a positive answer, the reporter asked whether the Lakers would be willing to keep him if James was interested in renewing his contract?

Pellinka made it clear that the Lakers are willing to keep James and he also hopes to see James retire as a Lakers player, which will be a positive story.

Pellinka's answer seems to be contrary to the report of famous reporter Yaron Weitzman, and in fact there is no conflict between the two sides.

famous reporter Yaron Weitzman revealed that James wanted to get a 1+1 early contract renewal contract but was rejected. Pelinka expressed his willingness to keep James, and there was no specific form of the contract. If James is willing to cut his salary this summer instead of executing a $56.2 million player option to lock the space, I believe the Lakers are definitely willing to provide him with an early contract renewal contract.

Even after this contract is over, as long as the contract amount is low enough, the Lakers have no reason not to renew James. After all, the latter is still ranked eighth among the active stars announced by ESPN, but it is difficult to threaten the team to strengthen the team as they signed a 1+1 contract in the past. Just like in ESPN's ranking in the past 15 years, James won the first place nine times, but missed the top five in the past four consecutive years.