Rob Pelinka: Lakers want LeBron James to return, will give him space

The Lakers aren’t rushing LeBron James. They’re waiting on him.

After James said he’ll “recalibrate” with his family before deciding his future, president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka made the team’s stance clear. They want him back. They’re also giving him space.

“We want to honor him,” Pelinka said, via ESPN. “That starts with allowing him to figure out what he wants to do.”

James, 41, remains undecided following the Lakers’ second-round exit. Pelinka didn’t push. He didn’t need to.

“Of course any team would want LeBron on the roster,” he said.

The Lakers have another priority alongside that one: Austin Reaves.

Pelinka said the organization has already expressed to Reaves’ representatives that it wants him to stay. The feeling appears mutual.

“Austin’s made it clear he wants to be here,” Pelinka said. “We want to work something out.”

Reaves is expected to decline his player option and enter free agency, making him a central piece of the offseason.

Pelinka also pointed to a late-season surge as a blueprint. The Lakers went 16-2 from late February through March, a stretch he called a “strong data point” for how the roster should be built moving forward.

That likely means more pieces that fit around Luka Doncic. Shooting. Defense. Defined roles.

The direction is forming. The biggest decision still belongs to LeBron.