Team USA has ramped up the selection process for this summer's Olympics in Paris. There are 11 players that the United States are counting on playing or are in strong consideration for a roster spot. The initial 11 are:

• Bam Adebayo - Miami Heat
• Devin Booker - Phoenix Suns
• Stephen Curry - Golden State Warriors
• Anthony Davis - Los Angeles Lakers
• Kevin Durant - Phoenix Suns
• Anthony Edwards - Minnesota Timberwolves
• Joel Embiid - Philadelphia 76ers
• Tyrese Haliburton - Indiana Pacers
• Jrue Holiday - Boston Celtics
• LeBron James - Los Angeles Lakers
• Jayson Tatum - Boston Celtics

None of these players are considered absolute locks as of yet. But all 11 are under strong consideration and have mentioned interest in representing Team USA this summer, provided they are healthy enough to play.

Of that group, Booker, Curry, Durant, Embiid, Holiday, James and Tatum are considered to be the United States core group. Edwards and Haliburton are being considered after strong play at last summer's FIBA World Cup. Adebayo and Davis are garnering interest for additional frontcourt depth around Embiid.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has a $51.4 million player option for next season. At this point, it's unknown what James is thinking on that option. ESPN's Brian Windhorst says James' goal is to sign a multi-year deal with the Lakers.

"I don’t think this is LeBron’s last stand, I don’t think this is the Lakers' last stand," Windhorst said on First Take. "First off, I think LeBron is angling to sign a multi-year deal in the offseason with the Lakers that will be nine figures. That will be even bigger than the deal he is on now. Now, whether or not he’s able to finish that deal, whether or not the Lakers want to give him a three-year contract and pay him $60 million when he’s 42 years old, that’s a different discussion."

The NBA's Over-38 rule makes signing a long-term deal a difficult one for James. Because James is already 39 years old, there are complications that come with signing a deal longer than a season. However, the Lakers and their superstar do seem to be in sync on keeping their partnership together beyond this season.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will miss Thursday's game at the Golden State Warriors due to a left ankle injury. James said over All-Star Weekend, that he was going to get treatment done on his ankle and could miss the first game after the break.

James has missed seven games this season. That included the Lakers last game before the break, and now will include the team's first game after the break.

Christian Wood will miss the next two weeks due to swelling in his left knee, the Los Angeles Lakers announced.

The Lakers are optimistic that the injury is minor and Wood will be able to return in the projected timeline.

LeBron James is set to have treatment done on his left ankle this week. That treatment could cause James to miss the Lakers first game after the All-Star break on Thursday at the Golden State Warriors.

James has been dealing with left ankle soreness for several weeks now. Overall, the veteran forward has missed seven games this season due to various ailments.

LeBron James did his All-Star media availability ahead of Sunday's All-Star Game. Many of the questions focused on James' future and how many years he'll play. James said that he's aware the end is closing in, but that he's not sure when or how he'll retire.

"I was asked this question a couple days ago," James said. "'Will you kind of take the farewell tour, or will you kind of just Tim Duncan it?'

"I'm 50-50, I'm going to be honest, because there's times when I feel like I guess I owe it to my fans that have been along this journey with me for two decades plus, to be able to give them that moment where it's every city and whatever the case may be and they give you your flowers or whatever the case may be. That seems cool.

"But the other side of I've never been that great with accepting like praise. It's a weird feeling for me."

James also owned that he knows retirement is looming.

"I don't know how it's going to end, but it's coming," James said. "It's coming, for sure."

James is hopeful of retiring with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I am a Laker and I'm happy and been very happy being a Laker the last six years and hopefully it stays that way," James said. "But I don't have the answer to how long it is or which uniform I'll be in. Hopefully [it] is with the Lakers. It's a great organization, so many greats. But we'll see."

The Los Angeles Lakers plan on pursuing a trade for a "difference-making perimeter talent" this offseason, sources tell ESPN's Zach Lowe.

The Lakers kept all of their remaining future draft picks at the 2024 trade deadline and will have three first rounders available to trade starting at the draft.

The Lakers have been linked with Dejounte Murray and Trae Young should the Atlanta Hawks decide to make either player available. 

During the 2023 offseason, the Lakers re-signed D'Angelo Russell and also added Gabe Vincent. Vincent has appeared in only five games this season as he's been limited by injury.

Stephen Curry was asked to respond to reporting that surfaced this week that the Golden State Warriors tried to acquire LeBron James from the Los Angeles Lakers ahead of the trade deadline.

"No, never surprised," Curry told reporters. "It's always a surprise when stuff like that gets out because I'm assuming that every team is making calls that if every fanbase or media group would know about it, it would normalize the conversations that happen in the front office, especially around the trade deadline when you're exploring around the league who's available and who's not.

"Obviously, a guy like Bron, you would probably call just to see. I don't know what the depths of the conversations were, but it was a nice little surprise this morning for sure."

Despite receiving interest from the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers ahead of the trade deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers were never close to trading LeBron James. In fact, the Lakers have made it known that their preference is to keep James moving forward.

Rival executives don't know if James has the same feelings towards the Lakers.

There remains speculation that James desire to play with his son Bronny will be a major factor in what team he plays for in the future. If another team drafts the younger James, his superstar father could choose to go to that team. There's also a belief that the elder James desire to play with his son could push the Lakers to draft Bronny.

The Lakers ability to potentially land a star ballhandler could factor into James' willingness to stay too. Los Angeles is known to have some level of interest in Dejounte Murray and Zach LaVine. The Lakers could also think bigger and could look to add an All-Star level player like Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell or Kyrie Irving.

LeBron James remains focused on remaining with the Los Angeles Lakers next season, sources tell ESPN.

If James does remain with the Lakers, he will likely decline his $51.4 million option for a new deal that would allow him an annual raise.

The Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers pursued a trade for James ahead of the deadline.

If James decides he would prefer to play for another team, he would likely exercise his option as part of a trade.