Pelinka: Respect James to decide how long to play

In an interview, Pelinka talked about the relationship between the Lakers management and James, saying that the interaction between the two sides is positive. "All our interactions with James and his team are positive and supportive, and the conversation with Ritchie Paul has been open and ongoing," said Pelinka. "There has been rumors about the future of both sides as James executes $52.6 million in the offseason this year. It is reported that the Lakers are more inclined to let James fulfill his existing contract and leave the team in the offseason next year.

Pellinka added that whether James is retired as a Lakers player depends on how many more seasons he wants to play, and the team is open to this. "I think the first thing we have to do is respect his and his family's decision on how long they will play, and we want to respect his right to decide on the schedule independently. I think that's very important, but it would be great if he has the opportunity to retire as a Lakers player."

It is reported that James hopes to continue his career after next season.