Is LeBron James’ longevity slowly turning into a curse for the Lakers? Well, while it might not be entirely true, no one would have expected LBJ to stay this dominant at the age of 39. Sure enough, his defiance of Father Time has left the Lakers in a state of limbo as they seem to be torn between whether to go all in right now or invest in the future for a time when LBJ is gone. And there have even been rumors of a possible Luka Doncic pursuit to secure the franchise’s future. But Rob Pelinka’s strategy will likely fall flat till LeBron is part of the roster.

Yes, LeBron recently signed a two-year $101.3 million extension with the team. But there is no telling until when he will stay with the Lakers as he has a player option next year. Then, there is also the big secret of his potential retirement, which he has been hinting at for a few years now. But the Lakers cannot fully commit to their Doncic pursuit until they are sure about LeBron’s future. Discussing the same on the Locked On Lakers podcast, media veteran Brian Kamenetzky pointed out, “It makes this conversation more complicated because it’s hard to add that third star until LeBron is gone.”

Similar to LeBron, Anthony Davis also inked a three-year $186 million deal last summer. With their massive contracts, the Lakers are only $45,000 below the second apron and cannot afford to add another superstar even though they desperately need one. Moreover, Luka will be eligible for a record supermax contract extension next off-season, which will be the biggest deal in league history at five years $346.3 million. Sure enough, the Lakers definitely cannot afford it in their current scenario. And guess what? If Luka somehow becomes available in the market, every team will try to poach the generational talent, making the pursuit even harder for Pelinka. So, what should the Lakers’ priority be right now?

Rob Pelinka and the Lakers need to focus on Anthony Davis

“He’s a pillar of the franchise and again, exciting day for us to be able to know that we can build around him for years to come.” With AD securing his future in LA for four more years, Rob Pelinka made it clear that he would be the focal point of the team going forward. Sure, LeBron will continue to be ‘The Guy’ in whichever team he plays, but Pelinka simultaneously needs to plan for a future without LeBron.

And Brian believes the Luka Doncic pursuit reveals this underlying pressure, “This conversation to me isn’t just about Luka Doncic because its really about the next star to play with Anthony Davis. Where are the Lakers gonna find the next star to play with AD when LeBron is gone?” While adding Luka would be a dream scenario, Pelinka might have to look for more options who could fit well alongside a big like AD.

Historically, the Lakers have always been able to lure the biggest superstars to their franchise. Surely, Jeanie Buss and Co. might already have begun planning for the next big star they want to add to take their organization forward. Do you agree?

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger