LeBron James Could Retire After Next Season

The NBA has created a system of increased parity with their successive collective bargaining agreements. The new second luxury tax apron will make building a sustainable title contender even more difficult.

When viewed independently, each of the penalties aren’t excessively punitive, but in the aggregate they make managing a front office particularly difficult.

“Each individual thing is manageable, but all of it together is crippling,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN.

The Golden State Warriors, for example, traded Jordan Poole as he was beginning a four-year extension due to their luxury tax concerns, whereas in 2020 they took on the long-term contract of Andrew Wiggins while also receiving a protected future first round pick that became Jonathan Kuminga.

The Boston Celtics allowed Grant Williams to leave in restricted free agency in a cost cutting move, while the Los Angeles Clippers also exercised some level of austerity in letting Eric Gordon become a free agent.

The Los Angeles Lakers have parted ways with Darvin Ham as head coach after two seasons with the franchise.

Ham guided the Lakers to the Western Conference in his first season. In Year 2, the Lakers won the In-Season Tournament and lost to the Denver Nuggets in the first round. The Lakers went 90-74 during the regular season with Ham.

Ham had two seasons remaining on his contract at approximately $5 million per year.

The Lakers previously fired Frank Vogel after three seasons with the club.