LeBron James didn't have to do an extension.

He's LeBron James.

This is Anthony Davis.

They could go on year, two year deals, essentially, if they wanted to.

But I think for both players getting the security of the longer term deal locking in the years and the money and now for the Lakers, they'll continue to try to build around those to bring in pieces.

You know, they're not gonna have the flexibility to bring in a T least through free agency.

Ah, high level star.

But they've improved themselves in this off season.

There's no question about that Dennis shrewder Marc Gasol.

But for Anthony Davis, now five year deal, I'm told, uh, there'll be an early termination option on it after the fourth year.

So he'll be under contract one more year than LeBron James on Anthony Davis will be, ah, 32 years old, potentially when he goes back in to free agency, young enough to get another massive deal, you know, assuming he stays healthy, Why LeBron in the extension now, why not wait for LeBron?

Yeah, it Certainly it was an option to keep doing it the way he had done it, which was on shorter term deals.

As he resigned in Cleveland, you saw that he did shorter deals, but I think it was locking in, you know, locking in that 80 $80 million plus, Uh, you know, when you get into your mid thirties and advancing, it's hard to imagine there's an injury, um, or a scenario that the Lakers wouldn't continue, uh, to pay LeBron James.

Uh, but he gets that security now He's locked in.

Certainly I think it speaks to a player who is focused on his future in L.

A.

That there's There's nowhere to go from the Lakers on DSO.

He's got a d locked in, you know, I think a d Listen, if you want to say their co stars right now in L.

A.

Certainly A D is the centerpiece of Ella's future, although with LeBron James, you get the feeling he's gonna play as long as he wants to that he'll be, uh, that he could still be at a high level into his forties.

Um, it's remarkable the way he's taking care of his body and how there's been little, if any, drop off in his game.

So you know, the Lakers air in great position.

They've got great role players around these two, and I think you've seen in history, I think, with the Lakers, especially when they're bringing in like the veteran minimum players.

You know, they get guys who wanna win championships who might take less money or take those one year deals to come in on.

Be complimentary players on a team, do it in L.

A doing at Staples Center and do it with UH, two players and James and Anthony Davis, who have shown that they coexist for all the problems elsewhere in the league.

And you see it everywhere.

Star players who cannot figure out how to play together.

It was a Ziff.

Anthony Davis and LeBron James had been playing together forever from the moment they got together last season.

Well, let's talk about star players that didn't feel if they can play together.

I mean, the John Wall Bradley Bill situation in D.

C.

And then you obviously have the Russell Westbrook and James Harden situation in Houston.

Massive trade.

Last time, I remember, though, woes Raphael Stone and Tommy Sheppard hadn't talked for a while.

Where did this come from?

They hadn't talked.

They hadn't talked since prior to the draft.

And that was up until yesterday afternoon.

Russell Westbrook's agent Fat Foucher with Wasserman, I'm told, got them talking, got them on the phone yesterday and help to bridge bridge that gap.

And once those two got on the phone, they work through the details.

You knew what was gonna be a 11 for one trade wall for Westbrook.

They worked out the details of that future first round pick that's gonna go to Houston.

The protections on that pick and J they had a deal done within a couple hours.

Uh uh.

It's not typical.

A deal of that magnitude comes together that quickly in one afternoon.

But it did yesterday.

Well, do you think?

Does that set the precedent for a guy like Raphael Stone, the general manager of the Houston Rockets, that he couldn't get the value that he actually wanted for Russell Westbrook?

Will that be the same for James Harden?

Do you think he then all of a sudden now looks to find a deal for James Harden?

Or does he hold on the James Harden?

I think they're gonna hold on to James Harden, and I think you know it z easier.

If you're going to trade a Supermax player, you almost have to find another Super Max player to trade him for because they make so much money on.

They were able to partner up and do that, and they did get a first round pick moving forward for him.

For Westbrook, certainly.

And you know, there's a gamble for both sides.

And I think that, I think, for both Washington and Houston they want to keep Bradley Beal in Washington.

They wanna keep James Harden in Houston.

They want to continue to build around those players, but they need these point guards to come in and fit in.

Uh, they need wall to regain his all star form.

You know, I think they need Russell Westbrook.

Um, you know, to find a chemistry with Bradley Beal.

I know this about Russell Westbrook right now.

One thing that's bothered him has been the talk out there about him as a teammate.

He takes great pride in being a great teammate, and and he's heard some knocks about that.

And I know it's bothered him because it's something that is important to him.

And you talk to the guys who played with him in O.

K.

C.

Uh in his career and Houston the rest of that roster.

He came in and and changed his game, learned to play off the ball, Um, didn't work out and from James Harden's eyes.

But I know it's important for Westbrook to come in and find a rhythm with Bradley Beal and really fit into that team.

And remember, he's going back to play with his old coach from Oklahoma City.

Scotty Brooks.

Well, I I need a quick answer on this one.

How are you?

What are you hearing about?

The way James Harden is handling all this now?

Uh, you know, CP three got injured.

Russell Westbrook has some injury issues with this hamstring during the bubble.

Now you bring in a guy in John Wall was coming off an Achilles injury.

DeMarcus cousins coming off an injury.

How is he handling everything?

Well, he's not committed to wanting to stay there.

The trade, I'm told, um, doesn't necessarily change his view of wanting to move on, but the Rockets do have something on their side.

They have time.

He still got two years left on his deal.

Um, but listen, they've given in Houston a lot of leeway.

Ah, lot of freedom.

Uh, Thio James Harden over the last several years under previous ownership under the new ownership, uh, they've really built an organization around him in every way on the court, off the court, on dso They want to keep him.

Thanks for watching ESPN on YouTube for live streaming sports and premium content.

Subscribed to ESPN plus right now.