LA Lakers happy to have LeBron James return to team for next year as star thinks next steps

[p]One day after the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-lakers/ngegZ8bg/"]Lakers[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/los-angeles-lakers-ngegZ8bg/oklahoma-city-thunder-0fHFHEWD/?mid=IsTIudo4"]were swept out of the NBA playoffs[/a] by the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/oklahoma-city-thunder/0fHFHEWD/"]Oklahoma City Thunder[/a], Pelinka and coach JJ Redick met with reporters to discuss the franchise's future.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-lebron/nuIVxFJk/"]James[/a], 41, said Monday he would take some time to decide his plans as he heads into free agency and Pelinka said the team would "honor" his process.[/p][p]"[b]We probably haven't seen a player that has honored the game to the extent that he's honored the game," Pelinka said of the four-time champion and all-time leading NBA scorer.[/b][/p][p]"[b]He's given so much to his teammates, to this organization. And the thing we want to do more than anything else is honor him back.[/b][/p][p]"[b]The first order of business there is allowing him to spend the time he needs to decide what his next steps are[/b]," Pelinka said.[/p][embed guid="4b0def12-146b-40fb-9f77-f461a19f1bdf" url="https://x.com/bballforever_/status/2054343403798974805?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]In his eighth season with the Lakers James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 33.2 minutes per game, earning his 22nd straight All-Star selection.[/p][p]"[b]Of course any team, including ours, would love to have LeBron James on their roster.[/b]"[/p][p]But Pelinka said that as the Lakers look forward they will be seeking to add players to complement [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doncic-luka/pQ4ZBK0o/"]Luka Doncic[/a], who led the league with 33.5 points per game but missed the playoffs with a hamstring strain.[/p][p]"[b]The archetype of the roster that we want is going to be retrofitted around Luka and the things he needs,[/b]" Pelinka said. "[b]Clearly he's that leader and player for the future.[/b]"[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/austin-reaves/xlCMu1nk/"]Austin Reaves[/a], who has emerged as a key offensive contributor as he averaged a career-high 23.3 points per game, will also become a free agent, and Pelinka said the Lakers would like to re-sign him.[/p][p]"[b]He started his journey here as a Laker and has made it very clear to us that he wants his journey to continue as a Laker,[/b]" Pelinka said. "[b]And we feel the same way.[/b]"[/p]