LeBron James opting into his player contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, followed by a statement released by his agent, has fueled trade and buyout rumors for the last week. He wants the best possible chance to compete for a championship, and even though the Lakers now have Luka Doncic, the rest of the roster is discombobulated, at best.

James opted into his contract but is reportedly watching the Lakers' offseason moves closely. Will the NBA's biggest star demand a trade?

Like sharks sensing a presence in the water, Rich Paul's cryptic statement that accompanied LeBron James' decision to opt in to his $52.6 million salary for next season led some teams to call the Los Angeles Lakers about the four-time NBA MVP's availability.

The Los Angeles Lakers have a better idea of what its depth at center will look like with Jaxson Hayes expected to return for another season.

The Los Angeles Lakers further shored up their depth at center by bringing back center Jaxson Hayes, according to ESPN. Hayes' one-year pact with the Lakers was reached on Thursday, the day after news broke that the team will sign Deandre Ayton to a two-year deal.

A day after adding free agent center Deandre Ayton, the Los Angeles Lakers reportedly agreed to a deal on Thursday to bring back their incumbent at the position, Jaxson Hayes.