The Los Angeles Lakers won their lone title with LeBron James back in 2020, but all in all one could argue that the franchise has underachieved during his tenure there.
James, who will turn 40 years old later this month, is in his seventh season with the Lakers. The team has made the playoffs in four of the previous six campaigns, earning two trips to the Western Conference Finals and one NBA Championship ring over that stretch. Los Angeles is 13-11 and currently occupies the 8th-seed in the Western Conference.
This year started off in promising fashion, but James has looked his age at times and the rookie additions of Dalton Knecht and Bronny James, LeBron James' eldest son, haven't been enough to put what is otherwise essentially the same roster from last season over the top.
As such, the Lakers have a considerable decision to make ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline, before which they are expected to be active: either deal for an upgrade around the James family or trade both members of it and head into rebuild mode around 31-year-old superstar Anthony Davis.
The assumption of most around the league is that L.A. intends to pursue the first course of action. However, Anthony Irwin of ClutchSports reported on Monday that there is some momentum behind path No. 2.
"Sources close to the Lakers did say that if James asked the Lakers to trade him, they would work with him to find a deal that lands him where he'd rather be but also brings back the kind of return that would jumpstart a rebuild," Irwin wrote. "If James was traded, it's also believed Bronny James would have to be part of the deal."
Irwin started off his report by noting that the Lakers are not actively seeking to trade James. However, there was interest from the Golden State Warriors in a deal for the four-time MVP ahead of last season's deadline, and ESPN analyst Mike Wilbon suggested such a move again recently as a win-win for both sides.
There would certainly be other franchises around the league interested in a deal for James, particularly if he's willing to take a pay cut in the upcoming season(s). James will have the option to become a free agent again next summer by opting out of his $52.7 million salary in 2025-26.
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This story was originally published December 10, 2024, 8:52 PM.