Lakers Notes: LeBron James, D’Angelo Russell, Rob Pelinka

Despite the retirement rumors, LeBron James is expected to return next season and fulfill his contract, a source close to the Lakers star told Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

James hinted at retirement on several occasions — once directly with McMenamin — after the Lakers were swept by the Nuggets in the Western Conference finals. James, 38, suggested he may need offseason foot surgery as well.

• The Lakers do not intend to offer guard D’Angelo Russell the maximum contract extension of two years and $67.5 million extension this summer, per McMenamin. 
• Many around the league have told Hoops Wire they believe the Lakers will try to run it back with their current core — then decide how things are going at the midway point, ahead of the trade deadline. Others see no reason for the Lakers to try to make any big, splashy moves this offseason.
• GM Rob Pelinka has indicated as much. “I would say this resoundingly clear: Our intentions are to keep our core of young guys together,” he said, via McMenamin.
• However, Los Angeles could try to shore up the point guard position this summer. McMenamin wrote about the three directions the Lakers could take. You can check it out here.
• We have more out of LA right here, as well as all the time on our Lakers page.