Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was rather vocal during NBA All-Star Weekend on a host of different topics.

While LeBron didn't flat out shade the Lakers front office or threaten to take off his purple and gold jersey anytime soon, he did speak out on a host of different topics that led to speculation on his potential frustrations with the franchise.

There was LeBron voicing out a possible return to the Cavaliers.

“I'm not saying I'm coming back and playing,” said the Lakers star on a second Cleveland homecoming. “I don't know. I don't know what my future holds. I don't even know when I'm free.”

He also reaffirmed his desire to play alongside his son Bronny, wherever team he may land. Then there was his unsolicited praise for Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti that raised more than a few eyebrows and caused a bit of a stir directed towards Lakers GM Rob Pelinka:

“The MVP over there is Sam Presti. Josh Giddey is great. I don’t understand this guy’s eye for talent. He drafted KD, Russ, Jeff Green, Serge Ibaka, Reggie Jackson, Josh Giddey and the list goes on, and on, and on. This guy is pretty damn good.”

However according to NBA insider Marc Stein on his Substack, the Lakers brain trust remains completely behind Rob Pelinka.

Pelinka has the unwavering support of Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and is firmly entrenched as a pillar of the club’s four-pronged brain trust alongside Buss and the power couple of Kurt and Linda Rambis.

The Lakers will be able to trade multiple future first-round picks in the summer, after they were limited to featuring a 2027 first-rounder in their recent trade offers. The problem: They still lack players other teams covet to package with those picks. James can seethe about the Lakers’ fruitless deadline all he wants, but it doesn’t make Pelinka’s hand any stronger.

LeBron James may be subtly hinting at his frustration to some degree, but it reportedly has no effect on how LA views its top decision-maker. Jeanie Buss is still the queen of the Lakers' kingdom and won't be swayed even by a figure as prominent as King James.

The report by Stein even goes out and emphasizes that perhaps not even LeBron James is bulletproof from every scenario. While he's the greatest player of his generation, the Lakers franchise as a whole still outweighs him to some degree. To the Lakers, LeBron James is still a relative newcomer despite already winning a championship in purple and gold.

Remember: This is an organization that has cut ties completely with Lakers icon Jerry West, who has a legit claim to Greatest Laker Ever status when you combine his playing achievements with his front-office work. James and agent Rich Paul, for all the perceived control they wield, are still outsiders when it comes to the Lakers’ power dynamics. If West can be cut off, rest assured LeBron can, too, if he can no longer lift the Lakers out of mediocrity.

This is what happens when the on-court product for the Lakers isn't how everyone had hoped. Blame gets thrown around and fingers are pointed at every direction. They've gone towards Russell Westbrook, Frank Vogel, Anthony Davis' injury woes, Rob Pelinka, and even LeBron James himself.

Unless the Lakers can turn this season around, the buck probably isn't stopping here.