LeBron James may not be as influential as you think

The rumors of LeBron James wielding god-like influence within NBA front offices may be greatly exaggerated. 

In a recent interview with "The Stephen A Smith Show," Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue confirmed reports that the Lakers low-balled him during their 2019 coaching negotiations even as James urged the franchise to hire his former Cavaliers head coach. 

According to Lue, James called him twice to help with the situation, but the Lakers did not budge and refused to meet his demands. 

"He called me twice," Lue recalled. "He called me, 'What do I have to do?' I said, 'No, I want them to respect me. I don't want to have to go to you to get my deal done. If they don't respect me like I should be respected, then it's okay.' He wasn't p----d off or mad about it, but he and [his agent] Rich Paul both stepped in and said, 'What are we going to do to get it done?' I didn't like the way it was handled."

Lue revealed the Lakers offered him a three-year deal when he wanted a five-year contract, and also insisted on picking his coaching staff on his behalf. Furthermore, the Lakers front office wanted to pick his "coaching style," which further rubbed him the wrong way. 

"I just thought that was a slap in the face, and as a young Black head coach, I just thought it was a bad example I was steering for other guys coming up after me," Lue said.

Lue would ultimately join then-Clippers head coach Doc Rivers' staff before being promoted to the top seat a year later. 

As for the Lakers, they would win the championship that season under Frank Vogel, who accepted a three-year deal, unlike Lue. As such, the Lakers had no reason to regret how they handled the Lue situation. However, one wonders if the James-Lakers relationship would have been strained if Banner No. 17 — albeit in the bubble — was never raised. 

The saga is a reminder that James, despite his enormous accomplishments, is still a player and not a member of the Lakers front office. Some would argue he had a hand in the franchise hiring JJ Redick and drafting Bronny James, and that's fair. But it's also fair to suggest Lue would have been hired in 2019 if James wielded considerable influence.