LeBron James, Lakers Had 'Productive' Contract Talks Thursday, Rich Paul Says

The Los Angeles Lakers got off to a good start when it came to extending the contract of their star player.

Rich Paul, who is James' representative with Klutch Sports, said contract discussions between the two sides were productive and will continue after he and James met with Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka.

James' current contract is set to expire after the 2022-23 season, and his long-term status will be one of the most interesting storylines of the entire league until he signs a new deal.

The Lakers' perspective is complicated by James' insistence that he wants to play with his son. It would be difficult for James to team up with his son if he signed a long-term deal before the NBA draft.

James will turn 38 years old in December.

He played more than 50 games in each of the last three seasons, but he only played 56 games last season. Even if he seems to defy age when he is on the floor, the storyline of the wear-and-tear on his body is worth keeping an eye on.

The 18-time All-Star averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebound, 6.2 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.1 blocks per game last season and likely would have been included in theMVP discussion if he played more games.

Los Angeles will look the same with James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook as the featured pieces next season. It's hard to imagine James going from out of the playoffs to winning a title without significant improvements, so he may look elsewhere to improve his chances.

There are plenty of factors in play that could determine where James ends up next, but the discussions have been productive and the Lakers can take solace in that.