Rich Paul meets with Lakers, says LeBron's 'primary objective' is to stay in L.A.

It's safe to say this season hasn't gone to plan for the Lakers. They currently sit on the border of the playoff picture, they've been embattled with injuries, and the moves they made in the offseason have made an impact that is inconsistent at best.

Despite all of this, however, LeBron James is reportedly in it for the long haul.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday evening that James' agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, met with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka to express his commitment to the organization.

As Wojnarowski reports, Paul assured the Lakers brass that there is no movement in process to replace management or make other significant shakeups in the organization's brain trust. Such speculation emerged over recent days after James' comments about a potential return to Cleveland, teaming up with his son Bronny James and other general reports of his displeasure with how the Lakers are being run.

James' contract is up following the 2022-2023 season, when he will be an unrestricted free agent. Naturally, people have speculated whether James will leave the Lakers, but as Wojnarowski writes, Paul has downplayed such rumors in private and assured Buss and Pelinka on Friday that James' 'primary objective' is to stay in Los Angeles and help the Lakers become contenders again.

While it's far too early to rule anything out, it would be a tough battle for that return to the top to be this season. The Lakers entered Friday in ninth place in the Western Conference, putting them firmly in the play-in picture. They sit 6.5 games back of not being stuck in the play-in and 4.5 ahead of falling out of the playoff picture altogether, so the next few weeks will be crucial toward determining their positioning for the postseason.

Unfortunately for Lakers, they'll be without James' top teammate Anthony Davis for the immediate future, as he remains out with an ankle injury. He was initially ruled out for two weeks, although the Lakers said he would be re-evaluated following the All-Star Break.

In 41 games this season, James is averaging 29.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game. Those numbers are good for third, 33rd and 16th among all qualified players in the NBA, respectively.