The Los Angeles Lakers held a press conference on Thursday afternoon at the UCLA Health Training Center. Rob Pelinka and JJ Redick took questions from members of the media, and Pelinka made the organization's stance on LeBron James' future in Southern California abundantly clear: the Lakers want number 23 to retire in Los Angeles.
As we approach a season that was already going to be swirling about questions concerning LeBron and how the conclusion of his illustrious career might turn out, this kind of statement from Pelinka helps the organization relieve speculation. It signals to the fanbase, the media, and even to LeBron himself that his legacy in Los Angeles is a priority for the organization.