The Lakers revealed that they wanted James to leave the team or cut their salary! But he executed the contract and reserved the right to veto the transaction

Sources told ESPN that after making Jack Laravia a priority as a free agent — in fact, a small bidding battle against the young backup forward was held between several teams — the Lakers hold about $8 million in centers with their intermediate exceptions and watch centers like Brooke Lopez and Clint Capela choose to leave the free market.

What the Lakers need most is a starting center

This is a sign of despair that the Lakers are eager to get a center and Luca Doncic. And, five months later, the Lakers still find themselves without one. It wasn't until the Lakers agreed to sign DeAndre Ayton on Wednesday, when he received a waiver after a slightly unexpected buyout from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Aiton is far from a perfect choice. There is a reason he was waived by Portland on the highest contract. But at the same time, the 2018 No. 1 draft pick is a talent, arguably the second best center to enter the open market this summer except Miles Turner. But sources said Ayton could be an active choice for the Lakers, at least, a major upgrade to last year’s incumbent Jaxson Hayes, who agreed to bring him back as Ayton’s backup Thursday night.

James chose the worst choice for the team, why can't he cut his salary to help the team

We haven't learned more about it publicly since Paul made a mysterious statement to ESPN's Shams Charania.

On the surface, the whole situation is a confusing passive-aggressive duel game. Lakers management hopes James would have opted out of his final year of contract, and he could have been a free agent, as one executive said, would be the way to really make the situation crazy. James chose to collect money instead, and perhaps equally important, to maintain his veto clause of the deal. Doing so seems to indicate that he hopes to play his eighth season in the Lakers uniform.

However, Paul's words are left to explain. Since then, we have not heard anything publicly available – whether it’s James, Paul or anyone from the Lakers, whether it’s General Manager Robert Pelinka, Coach JJ Redick, President Jenny Buss or new boss Mark Walter, a right to the person who happened to pay tens of billions of dollars to take over Bass as the team owner! Although James is one of the greatest players of all time, the Lakers haven't even officially announced the statement that James executes the option player contract, which undoubtedly sent out its own nonverbal aversion message.

So, where will the Lakers go next?

This is one of the biggest topics in the league. The concept of a trade is not impossible—nothing is impossible in the NBA after the Doncic trade—but it is unlikely due to James’ high salary and his veto terms.

Sources said some dazzling teams asked just to measure what this is or nothing. At present, no work was done. But it is definitely under surveillance.

The idea of ​​buying out James' contract - even if he returns a large sum of money, it doesn't make any logical sense. This is not the case with the Milwaukee Bucks with Damian Lillard, a future Hall of Famer with a tear of left Achilles tendon.

This player led the team to the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference last season and was selected as the second team of the NBA All-Team, which was done when Doncic's level was less than 100%!

What are the benefits of simply letting James go? In a league that is extremely familiar with strange situations, few in recent memory can rival this player. But speculation will continue until James or the Lakers make clear his idea of ​​going elsewhere next season. The Lakers also hope to send James away, so that the team can have a better record and more room for strengthening.