LeBron James on Los Angeles Lakers' offseason roster moves -- 'Not my decision'

play

After one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, the Los Angeles Lakers will have to make a lot of decisions this summer.

James said in a news conference Monday that it was not his decision to sit here and say "Well, this is what we". At the end of the day, they will make the decision they feel is best for the franchise going forward.

Rob Pelinka, the Lakers' vice president of basketball operations, has referred to James as a "stakeholder" when it comes to personnel decisions, allowing for greater influence from the star.

L.A. overhauled its roster to trade for Russell Westbrook last summer, only to see the team finish just 33-49 and fail to qualify for the play-in tournament.

James said the front office will do whatever it takes to help the ball club become a better ballclub. At the end of the day, they will make the decision that they feel is best for the franchise.

James was the first player to speak. Pelinka was not included on the interview list. Shortly after James met with reporters, the Lakers fired Vogel.

James endorsed the coach who he would team with to win a championship in 2020.

James said that he respects Frank as a coach and as a man.

James did not say he wanted to bring the same core group back to L.A. next season.

James said that he loves Russ for his competitive spirit and how he brings to the game every night. I don't want to sit here and make decisions for the front office, but I love being a teammate of Russ.

James played in only 56 games because of various injuries, and he needs to use the off-season to heal. He said that he will not need surgery or an injection to recover from his ankle injury, which caused him to sit seven of L.A.'s final eight games. He will need an additional four to six weeks of rest for his ankle before he can start training.

If we were the team that I hoped and wished we were, I shouldn't have played in that New Orleans game after the injury, James said. I wanted to see if we could make a late push.

James is approaching his 20th season and turning 38 in December, and he said he is committed to making a late push to add another championship to his resume. He denied that his choice to join the Lakers has been a failure.

I came here to win a title. I want to win more. James said that he accomplished what he wanted to, but he was still hungry for more. This organization has always been about that. I have done that. We have done that. I want to do it again.

While James said in February that this is a franchise he sees himself being with in the future, he has not discussed the two-year, $97.1 million contract extension he will be eligible to sign in August with the Lakers.

James said that the collective bargaining agreement makes it impossible to discuss it until later in the year.

After L.A. was out of the playoff race, James said he wouldn't play those games, even though he was ineligible for the league scoring title.

After we were eliminated from the playoffs, there was nothing to think about. That is beneath me and where I am in my career. I'm 19 years old and I think going after a scoring title when you aren't making the playoffs is the craziest thing ever.