The free-agency frenzy is on full display in the NBA.
The Milwaukee Bucks have already kicked the tires by waiving and stretching Damian Lillard, and Kevin Durant is now a member of the Houston Rockets.
However, they might not be the only big-name players on the move this offseason.
According to ESPN insider Dave McMenamin, LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, told him that as many as four teams have already inquired about potentially trading for him:
“LeBron hasn’t had any discussions with the Lakers about wanting a trade,” McMenamin said. “Rich Paul said four teams contacted him in the last 24 hours wanting to talk trades, but there weren’t any substantive conversations with those teams."
James is aiming for a fifth championship before riding into the sunset, and Paul claimed that they will evaluate what the Lakers do to build a championship-contending roster in the offseason:
“Right now, LeBron is focused on playing on a championship-caliber roster. Rich told me, ‘There are no guarantees in building one, but we know what it looks like and what it doesn’t look like,’” McMenamin added.
James recently picked up his $52.6 million player option to return to the Lakers, but that doesn't mean he's necessarily going to be on the team.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23)
© David Richard-Imagn Images
While he hasn't formally requested a trade, all this chatter has put plenty of pressure on Rob Pelinka and the front office to bolster the roster to win right now, not in the future.
Also, James has a no-trade clause in his contract, so he could essentially handpick his next destination if he were to be traded.
The Lakers have a cornerstone for the future in Luka Doncic, but they still need to add more size and depth to their roster, and it will be interesting to see what they do to appease their superstar.