CNN
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The Los Angeles Lakers have more questions than answered after a shocking first round at the hands of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Despite reports that the Lakers are “hoping” from superstar forward LeBron James next season, questions remain on their upcoming team.
After Wednesday’s 103-96 Game 5 loss in front of Crypto.com Arena home fans, the 40-year-old James was uncertain about his future when asked how many more years he was due to play.
“I don’t know. I don’t have an answer,” James told reporters. “I’m just sitting with my family, my wife, my support group, talking through it, seeing what happens, I just want to continue playing, and having a conversation. Honestly, I don’t know the answer right now.”
Rob Perinka, the Lakers president and general manager of basketball operations, ran the Lukadon Sic trade in February, but he understands that the NBA’s greatest scorer James is keeping an eye on improving his offseason roster.
“I think LeBron will have high expectations for the roster,” Perinka told reporters Thursday. “And we’re going to do everything we can to meet them, but whatever that is, he still knows he’ll give 110% each night.
The four-time NBA champion has the option of returning to next season, with Perinka having the “best ever” confidence in the cores of James, Don Sic and Austin Reeves.
“I think these three guys have an incredible promise to play together,” Perinka added. “And we collectively do a better job to make sure they are surrounded by the right pieces to achieve ultimate success.”
James was one of the best players in the league for 22 seasons, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists.
JJ Reddick has pointed out that he will leave his first year as the Lakers head coach and improve the conditioning of players next season.
“We’ll start with the offseason and the work we need to get into the form of a championship in the offseason,” Reddick said. “And we have a way to go as a roster. And certainly there are individuals who are incredible shapes. Certainly there are others who have been in better shapes. That’s what my mind has to quickly take the form of a championship.”
Minnesota is set to play the winner of the Golden State Warriors-Horston Rockets series in the second round, with Redick “confirming” that the Lakers weren’t a better team.
“Maybe this is hard for coaches and players to admit this. We lost to a better team,” Reddick said. “That’s the reality. We did.”
As James sees, Perinka declared that one way to reinforce the team’s championship desire is to find an Anthony Davis alternative to add sizes to the front court. Davis was shipped to Dallas in return for Donsic.
James declined to comment on the Lakers’ struggle at the Center after the trade, but provided a gut check to the front office.
“My ads said what he wanted and he was the following week,” James said.
If James returned to play another season, he outperformed Vince Carter in most seasons he played in NBA history.
