Lakers Notes: James, Christie, Finney-Smith, Trade Assets

All-NBA Lakers forward LeBron Jameswho has been the oldest active player in the league since the start of the 2023/24 season will turn 40 on Monday. As Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press notes, James will be the first player in league history to wear the jersey in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. James will also become only the 30th player to ever compete in a regular season contest in his 40s.

“In some ways it’s a freak of nature.” said league commissioner Adam Silver from James. “I have worked with a lot of great players and he is one of the hardest working players I have ever been around. I mean, he doesn’t take a day off. He doesn’t seem to take an afternoon off. He is constantly working on some part of his body. You meet him and he is constantly drinking or eating something with a device attached to him.”

The four-time league MVP continues to look like an All-Star despite playing in his 22nd season for the 18-13 Lakers. He is averaging 23.5 points on .496/.357/.767 shooting splits, along with 9.0 rebounds and 7.9 boards per night.

There’s more from Los Angeles:

• Although Lakers swingman Max Christie He started his third season a bit shaky, but has been working his way into form recently and before LA’s move to the three-and-D wing Dorian Finney Smith and point guard Shake MiltonChristie had emerged as head coach JJ Redick‘s decision to round out his starting five. Finney-Smith’s arrival could change his role, but Christie has finally begun to make good on the promise he made in his four-year, $32 million contract to stay in Los Angeles over the summer. During an in-depth interview with The Athletic’s Jovan Buha, Christie discussed his big third professional season. “A lot of things happen in the offseason when you get re-signed. I have expectations of myself.” Christie said. “I think I put too much emphasis on playing perfectly (at the start of the season) and doing the right things, and that made me think all the time when I’m out there. I wasn’t flowing. I wasn’t free.” Christie has really made the most of his time in the rotation over the last month. “Honestly, it’s been really good so far. I look back and think about my entire career up to that point.” Christie said. “I hadn’t really played much and then I just tried to work and work and work.”
• The Lakers gave up three second-round draft picks to acquire Finney-Smith and Milton, in addition to the reserve guard’s expiring $18.7 million deal D’Angelo Russell and sophomore forward Maxwell Lewis. Zach Harper of The Athletic praises the deal for the Los Angeles team president Rob Pelinka. Harper expects the 6-foot-2 Finney-Smith to be inserted into the Lakers’ starting lineup immediately and Christie to be promoted back to the bench. He provides more defensive length along the perimeter and a solid three-point shot. Harper is pessimistic that Milton Redick’s rotation will crack at reserve point guard Gabe Vincent.
• Exactly who will be demoted to the Lakers’ bench has yet to be determined. Jovan Buha of The Athletic is thinking ahead Rui Hachimura could become a reserve, meaning Max Christie would play alongside Finney-Smith in a new starting unit. Buha notes that the deal will help free up some cash for Los Angeles. The team is now $3.5 million below the league’s restrictive second tax limit. Losing Russell means the Lakers are sacrificing some playmaking while also gaining in defense and off-ball shooting. Los Angeles still has some trading assets if it wants to continue doing deals. In addition to two remaining second-round picks and three first-round pick swaps, the Lakers have three tradeable future first-round draft selections but can move a maximum of two due to the Stepien Rule.