Does LeBron James 'owe' the Lakers for JJ Redick, Bronny acquisitions?

This past offseason, the Lakers brought LeBron James' former podcast partner, JJ Redick, and his son, Bronny James, into the fold.

James was understandably thrilled by the pair of acquisitions, but the jury is still out on whether either move would pan out for Los Angeles in the long run. 

Regardless of how things shake out, does James "owe" the Lakers for doing him a pair of solids? That's the opinion of one of his former teammates, Kendrick Perkins.

"For the first time in [his career], LeBron feels like he owes this organization," Perkins said on ESPN's "NBA Today" on Tuesday. "It doesn't matter how they try to disguise it or downplay it, we know JJ Redick was a LeBron hire. Everything that goes on in a LeBron James organization, he has his hands in it, and that's okay. We also know that the Lakers drafted Bronny James and signed him to a four-year contract with guaranteed money." 

"So, LeBron James is basically saying, 'if y'all got my back and let me call some shots, I'm gonna give y'all my all.' Now, in exchange, can the Lakers do the same? I really feel like Bron feels he owes the Lakers."

Perkins' comments came after James reiterated his goal to play all 82 games this season, a strategy that even Redick isn't completely on board with. After the Lakers' 109-80 loss to the Timberwolves on Monday, Redick said he's unsure if "it's in the best interest" of either the Lakers or James for the 39-year-old to play all 82 games.

Perhaps Perkins could be onto something, and James does feel indebted to the Purple and Gold. James — one of the most durable players in NBA history — last appeared in all 82 games during the 2017-18 season, his last season in Cleveland. Since joining the Lakers, the aging James has crossed even the 70-game threshold only once. 

A quarter of the way into the season, the Lakers don't exactly look like geniuses with the Redick hire or the Bronny draft selection. The team is off to a 12-9 start, the exact record after 21 games under Darvin Ham a year ago. As for Bronny, the USC alum has scored only four points since donning a Lakers jersey.