記者Eric Pincus撰文分析LBJ續約與否的湖人未來
"Based on my conversations with people who have a strong sense of such things, i
t's clear James is considering playing out this contract rather than signing a t
wo-year extension this summer," Sam Amick of The Athletic recently wrote. "... [
James] could go back to the year-by-year approach he perfected in his second Cle
veland stop."
The Athletic記者的Sam Amick近日報導：根據我與那些對此有強烈感覺的消息人士的交談
，很明顯LBJ正在考慮走完現在這份合約，而不是在今年夏天簽下兩年延長合約 。LBJ可以
回歸他第二次的騎士生涯中一年一簽的方式。
Sources at Klutch Sports insist those internal discussions on James' future have
n't taken place yet. However, James was non-committal after his exit meeting wit
h the team last week.
來自Klutch Sports的消息人士堅稱，關於LBJ未來的內部討論還沒有進行。然而，LBJ在上
週的賽季總結採訪中並沒有做出續約承諾。
James' decision may determine the direction of the Lakers' offseason. If he refu
ses to commit to them beyond next season, that could impact how they rectify the
Russell Westbrook situation.
LBJ的決定可能會決定湖人休賽期的方向。如果他拒絕和湖人續約，這將影響湖人如何處理
龜龜的情況。
The Lakers will likely have to ship out their 2027 and/or 2029 first-round picks
to offload Westbrook's $47.1 million expiring contract this summer. If they als
o have to take back unwieldy contracts, they might balk at oft-injured players o
n long-term deals like Gordon Hayward or Malcolm Brogdon if James isn't committe
d beyond next season.
要在今年夏天處理龜龜4710萬美元的到期合約，湖人很可能就必須送出他們的2027及/或202
9年首輪籤。如果他們必須要接收難以處理的合約且LBJ下賽季沒有續約，他們可能會拒絕那
些經常受傷、身上有長期合約的球員，比如Hayward或Brogdon。
If James refuses to sign an extension this summer, the Lakers will need to eithe
r move on or capitulate. While James doesn't have a no-trade clause, superstars
have a certain modicum of control over where they go, especially near the end of
their contracts.
如果LBJ今年夏天拒絕續約，湖人要麼繼續打完賽季要麼主動交易。雖然LBJ沒有交易否決權
，但超級巨星對自己的去向有一定的控制權，尤其是在合約即將結束的時候。
Westbrook is one of many dominoes who could be impacted by James' decision eithe
r way.
龜龜是眾多可能受到LBJ決定影響的多米諾骨牌之一。
With his family well situated in Los Angeles, James has given no indication that
he wants to leave the Lakers. However, the threat of his potential departure ne
xt offseason may help him gain more influence over the rest of the roster and th
e coaching hire.
由於他的家人都居住在洛杉磯，LBJ還沒有給出任何表明他想離開湖人的跡象。然而，他可
能在下個休賽期離隊的威脅也許會幫助他在剩餘球員名單和教練聘用上獲得更大的影響力。
If James doesn't extend his contract and leaves next summer, the Lakers would ga
in significant financial flexibility. However, they would lack a headliner.
如果LBJ不延長合約並在明年夏天離開，湖人將獲得巨大的財務靈活性，但是他們將缺少頭
牌。
Based on current commitments, the Lakers could have $57-75 million in spending p
ower next offseason (using a cap projection of $128.1 million for 2023-24) if Ja
mes leaves and they renounce the rights to the rest of their roster. They would
still have Davis on the books for at least one more year, and they could look to
land another star or two in free agency.
根據目前的情況，如果LBJ明年夏天離開，並且他們放棄對其他球員的續約，湖人在下個休
賽期可能擁有5700萬-7500萬美元的薪資空間(2023-24賽季預計薪資上限為1.281億美元)。
湖人仍然會讓AD至少再待一年，他們可能會考慮在自由球員市場上，再簽一兩個球星。
But cap room only goes so far. The Lakers aren't guaranteed to lure another set
of marquee players. Instead, they might look to get out of Davis' contract and s
tart over entirely if James leaves.
湖人不能保證吸引另一批大牌球員，相反的，如果LBJ離開他們可能會尋求擺脫AD的合約，
並重新開始。
That wouldn't necessarily be a terrible plan. The Lakers don't have any ugly, lo
ng-term contractual commitments. They might be able to rebuild quickly with a mo
untain of cap space and whatever they got in return for Davis.
這不一定是一個糟糕的計劃。湖人不必背負未來任何的長期合約，他們可能能以大量的薪資
空間以及他們從交易AD那裡得到的任何回報來快速進行重建。
Even if James agrees to extend his contract this summer, he may want a player op
tion on the final season, which would match Davis' early termination option befo
re 2024-25. That would give the Lakers two full years before potentially losing
both of their stars.
即使LBJ同意在今年夏天延長合約，他也可能希望在合約的最後一個賽季獲得球員選項，這
將與AD在2024-25賽季之前提前終止合約的球員選項相匹配。這樣湖人可能在兩年後同時失
去兩位球星。
In the best-case scenario, both of them will stay healthy, contend for titles an
d have no desire to eventually depart. This past year may just go down as a mome
ntary rough patch.
在最好的情況下，他們兩人將保持健康，爭奪冠軍，最終並沒有離開的意願。過去的一季可
能只是短暫的艱困期。
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如何做決定