Sources: Lakers VIPs Can’t Align on How to Maximize LeBron James

When the Los Angeles Lakers agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million extension with King James in August, they promised to give him the necessary pieces to compete for a title.

Rob Pelinka, the Lakers president of basketball operations, said at the start of training camp that he was the "caretaker" of the legacies.

The current Lakers' roster is not good enough to be considered a "caretaker" in the NBA's 2022-23 season.

After dropping a fourth consecutive contest and plunging to 2-9 on the season, the Lakers' 11-game sample size is enough to warrant drastic changes.

League sources tell Bleacher Report that the organization is facing a critical decision in the James era, a decision that could cause players to sour on the direction of the franchise. There is still time for the Lakers to be active on the trade market.

Should the Lakers go all-in on changing their roster around James and Anthony Davis, or should they wait until the end of the season?

The Lakers don't have a lot of assets or draft capital to strengthen their roster.

Sources say that James, who turns 38 next month and is in Year 20 of his NBA career, doesn't want to waste a season of his high-level playing days in hopes of future reinforcements. The core players on the roster want those picks to be used to elevate the team.

Pelinka now has a difficult decision to make.

Sources say the front office is unlikely to attach those picks to a potential trade out of concern that such a transaction wouldn't change the course of the season.

Sources say that a trade for the Pacers' Turner and Hield would not move the needle in the title race.

If that was correct, the Lakers wouldn't have any money left for the rest of James' contract, which ends in 25 years.

The Lakers gave the Pelicans the right to swap first-round picks in the 2023 NBA draft in exchange for Davis. The Lakers would have a pick in the lottery if the season ended today, but the Pelicans would get that pick because they have a better record.

Because of the NBA's Stepien Rule, the Lakers can't swap picks with New Orleans until after they pick. They could offer three first-round picks in a trade package for a game-changing player.

The Washington Wizards shooting guard is a player the Lakers would love to have. If he were to request a trade, he would only be able to go after the 10-year veteran.

Sources say that the Lakers are getting calls about Russell's availability, but they are not at a serious point.

Sources tell us that the Lakers are not considering trading Davis. Rich Paul would have received calls from teams inquiring if his client would agree to an extension if they traded for him. Sources say those conversations haven't happened.

James injured his groin midway through the fourth quarter of Wednesday's loss and had to leave the game. He isn't sure if he'll miss time in the future.

Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said that if he has to sit a game or a few games, the players need to be ready to play. It can spill over to more games being lost if guys hang their heads.

Before James left the game, he single-handedly tried to keep his team in the game by pouring in a game-high 30 points in 32 minutes to go with eight boards, five assists and two steals.

The Lakers had four double-figure contributors, while the Clippers had seven.

The Lakers star couldn't do enough against the Clippers because he doesn't have enough people around him.