Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images

According to one Western Conference player, LeBron James didn't sign with the Lakers—he signed with the city of Los Angeles.

"He wanted to come to L.A.," the player told Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. "They just had to not f--k it up. Jerry West just said it, and I was like, 'Finally.' He's not coming to the Lakers. He came to L.A."

The sentiment echoes a quote by former Lakers guard and current Clippers executive Jerry West, who credited the city more than the Lakers organization for LeBron's signing.

"All due respect to the Lakers, who handled everything well," West told Sports Illustrated's Jack McCallum, "but, as these things go, LeBron was not a tough free-agent signing. LeBron wanted to come to L.A. and he wanted to come to the Lakers. Period. He has a family he's thinking about. He has a home here. [Actually two homes.] He has a son [13-year-old "Bronny" Jr.] whom he wants to keep in one school in Los Angeles. He will be a celebrity out here, sure, but it's a place where, once in a while, he can get lost, be himself. You can't do that everywhere."

The Lakers journey James is embarking on is difficult to say the least. There is no surefire costar on this Lakers roster—not even someone as accomplished as the oft-criticized Kevin Love. There is a group of young talent, all of whom at least a decade James' junior. Barring a major trade or free-agent signing next summer, there's no clear path to contention.

"My thought was, 'Good luck. You must really want to live in L.A.'" an agent said. "Playing Western Conference teams night in and night out is not going to be the same. You don't get a 'night off.' I would not want to end my career just making the playoffs."

By contrast, James' flawed Cleveland Cavaliers team benefited from playing in the Eastern Conference and had a clear path to making the Finals. They likely could have traded the draft pick they used on Collin Sexton for a star-caliber player that would have set up a fifth straight Finals appearance.

James instead seems to be making a choice more based on lifestyle than championship contention. His multimedia profile is growing seemingly by the week, and basing his life in Los Angeles makes more sense at this point.