This summer could make-or-break the LeBron James era with the Lakers, and it's starting to sound like it might be a bust.
James and the Lakers drastically underperformed expectations this season, with injuries, bad chemistry and poor roster construction causing the superstar forward to miss the playoffs for the first time since his second season in the NBA. LA faces a crucial upcoming summer, where they will try to woo another big-name free agent to Tinseltown in order to play Robin to James' Batman.
Many have floated the idea of Kevin Durant or Klay Thompson, both of whom will be free agents this summer, leaving the vaunted Warriors to join James in LA, but it doesn't appear the Lakers have a good chance of landing either of the Warriors' stars, according to The Athletic's Bill Oram.
While Durant, Thompson and Kawhi Leonard all are expected to be high on the Lakers' offseason wishlist, rival executives believe it is "unlikely" either of three will join James, according to Oram, as the opinion around the league is that the Lakers are second or third on each of those players' lists.
Ouch.
If that turns out to be the case, the Lakers will be left with trying to sell Kyrie Irving on rejoining James or turn their attention to the B-group of free agents that includes Jimmy Butler, DeMarcus Cousins and Tobias Harris.
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Irving reportedly will grant the Lakers a meeting, but it seems unlikely the guy who forced his way out of James' shadow in Cleveland would come crawling back. However, it's impossible to tell what a mercurial star like Irving will do.
[RELATED: KD reportedly 'ready to move on;' Klay would sign max deal]
Should the Lakers whiff on all the big-name guys, they'll be forced to surround James with better role players and hope young stars Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma take another leap.
And we saw how that plan of attack worked this year.
