LeBron James knows it's all about getting to the Playoffs

LeBron James has agreed to a two-year extension to his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. This new deal is worth up to $97.1 million. This amount will make LeBron the highest-earning player in NBA history. Now, the Lakers can focus on upgrading their roster via trades or free agent signings. However, there are still some questions regarding some players such as Russell Westbrook, but according to NBA today, LeBron knows the team is still not done making moves.

The Lakers missed the playoffs for the second time in the past four seasons. This is only the fourth time in LeBron James' career that he missed a chance for a championship. The only two times prior he missed the playoffs were his first two years in the league, 2003-04 and 2004-05. Still, during that time, LeBron won Rookie of the year and the following year received his first All-Star selection.  Since then, he has reached the playoffs 13 years in a row, winning three championships.

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However, this team still doesn't look ready to compete during the regular season. They might be the sixth or seventh best team in the Western Conference. Still, LeBron believes that if the team can get to the playoffs, then they might have a chance at the Championship. "LeBron just wants to be in a situation to compete in the playoffs once again. Once he is in the playoffs, he feels like ‘I got a chance’, more often than not. When he makes the postseason, he is in the Finals, commented Dave McMenamin.

According to ESPN's NBA Today reporter, Dave McMenamin, the LeBron James contract extension could “re energize the phone calls that Rob Pelinka makes to teams like Brooklyn, or Indiana or Utah in order to get this team better in the short term, prior to training camp. In terms of getting the pieces around LeBron and AD to be more championship ready.” explained the reporter regarding moves the Lakers might make.

The teams that are better than the Lakers

Right now the Lakers are probably the sixth best team in the Western Conference. The Golden State Warriors are the defending champions, and one of the favorites for this season Championship. The best team in the West might just be The Clippers led by Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks are also ahead of the Lakers. Chris Paul Sun's and Ja Morant's Grizzlies are also better than the Lakers.