Everything JJ Redick, Pelinka Said About LeBron James, Austin Reaves’ Lakers Futures Ahead of NBA FA

Los Angeles Lakers coach JJ Redick and general manager Rob Pelinka are in agreement about wanting to retain the team’s two biggest free agents.

During Tuesday’s press conference after the team’s season ended, Pelinka told reporters he wants to see both LeBron James and Austin Reaves back in Southern California:

On Reaves, Pelinka added that each party has made it “abundantly clear” about wanting him to extend his Lakers tenure.

Redick chimed in to say that “of course we want that core to be back together.”

As much as Pelinka and Redick may outwardly express a desire to keep the core together, The Athletic’s Dan Woike and Sam Amick reported that “running it back with a mostly similar roster isn’t a palatable option” for the organization.

James is the big wild card.

The 22-time All-Star is undecided on retirement. Should he choose to play another season, he may have to take less money or adjust to life as the secondary star behind Luka Dončić.

Pelinka made it clear that Dončić is now the centerpiece:

Woike and Amick reported that James is open to staying in Los Angeles. However, he’s willing to explore outside opportunities, “especially if James senses the Lakers are set on moving on in a different direction without him.”

Even assuming Reaves and James remain in the fold, the supporting cast could be heading for a reshuffle. Redick cited the need for more depth:

Dončić was sidelined for the postseason, while Reaves missed four of the team’s 10 games. When they were both unavailable in the first round against the Houston Rockets, Redick was left Rui Hachimura and Marcus Smart as the next scoring options behind LeBron.

The center position could be a particular area of focus as Jaxson Hayes is a free agent and Deandre Ayton could decline his player option.

“There is a desire for better center play, true lob threats who mimic the skills of Daniel Gafford and Dereck Lively II (with cleaner injury histories),” Woike and Amick wrote.

Pelinka and Redick have a lot of work ahead to sort out the futures of Reaves and James on top of identifying outside targets who best suit Dončić’s game.