“LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all,” said LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, in a recent statement. The 4x NBA champion had until Sunday to pick up his player option for $52.6 million, which he did. While that would have been good news, Rich Paul’s statements imply that LeBron used the player option to keep all options open for him. For the first time in his career, LeBron James might be open to a trade. Why, though? Well, NBA reporters Trevor Lane and Daniel Strakand might have the answer to that.
During the recent episode of the ‘Lakers Nation’ show, the two insiders touched base on Rich Paul’s remarks and LeBron James picking the player option. Lane concluded that the same was interlinked, since “Picking up the option is the path to a trade. It may not mean a trade is coming, but if there’s going to be a trade, picking up the option is the path to do that. Number 1: Let’s say he declined it, and he becomes a free agent. There is no team out there with cap space that can be a title contender and pay him. That doesn’t exist”.
Lane also added that LeBron couldn’t have opted for a sign-and-trade deal, since “A sign and trade triggers a hard cap at the 1st apron. So, for the receiving team…. so if LeBron were to be signed and traded to let’s say the Knicks, just to throw a team out there. LeBron were to be signed and traded to the Knicks. The Knicks would be hard-capped at the first apron. Almost every team that’s a true title contender cannot trigger a 1st apron hard cap. They’re already past that point”.
In that case, the only option would be for LeBron James and the Lakers to negotiate a trade with a team that he believes can take him to a championship. With so much flexibility, who better to woo than the Golden State Warriors?
Yeah, imagine that scenario. Two of the most renowned veterans of the modern NBA are on the same team. The Golden State Warriors already have a cap allocation of $265.73 million. They are already way past the 1st apron limit by around $69.784 million. The Warriors’ front office would not be afraid of taking additional risks if, in exchange, they could fulfill the long-desired dream of having LeBron James and Stephen Curry in the same NBA team!
Stephen Curry, LeBron James
From a financial perspective, acquiring LeBron means the Warriors will have to let go of Draymond Green, Buddy Hield, and Moses Moody! However, to replace their franchise centrepiece, the Lakers would require more in a deal. A straight Jimmy Butler-LeBron James swap would work financially, especially since Jimmy Butler’s average salary is around $5 million more. Additionally, Golden State could throw its young centers (Trayce Jackson-Davis, Quinten Post) in a deal. Knowing how desperate the team is to get someone efficient at the Center position, the Lakers might at least be open to considering a deal with Jackson-Davis and Post.
Either way, no deal can go through if either Butler or Green is not put on the sacrificial altar. Salaries of players like Moody and Hield could be the cherry on top. The Warriors had inquired about LeBron James earlier this year. They certainly are open to getting the 40-year-old on their side. Plus, knowing how LeBron and Stephen Curry led Team USA to the Gold Medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, a partnership between them would lead to a surge in fan interest. It’s a win-win for the Warriors if long-term implications are kept to the side.
LeBron James might very well end up considering a trade. After all, by keeping Luka Doncic in mind, the team might not be able to fulfill the 40-year-old’s asks that will get him to stay.
Trevor Lane highlights Lakers can only listen to either LeBron James’ or Luka Doncic’s requirements: “There is a big difference there”
When Luka Doncic was acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers back in February, it was clear what the team was doing. With LeBron James being 40, it was high time the franchise found its new face. At 26 years, and already touted as amongst the best players in the modern NBA, the Slovenian can carry the Lakers forward for the next decade-and-a-half. Therefore, for Rob Pelinka and Co., the priority is to build around Luka. Unfortunately, that ‘priority’ would clash with the changes LeBron James is threatening through the trade rumors.
Trevor Lane highlighted, during the episode, “When people ask, ‘Well, doesn’t Luka want to win right now too?’ Yes. But the difference is LeBron needs to win right now, and you would consider guys who are past the prime of their career, not only have a couple of years left. Whereas if your goal is to win with Luka, you’re not going to consider those guys that are at the end of their career. You need guys that are going to have a 5-year window with Luka. At least that’s about as far as you can realistically project in an NBA franchise”.
LeBron James is seeking a championship immediately. Luka Doncic wants a team that, over the years, can help him win championships without going through rebuilds. Acquiring veteran players that can help LeBron would cost the team its younger stars. This puts the Lakers in a conundrum. Naturally.
Feb 19, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Luka Doncic (77) during the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
“You’re looking at a 5-year window, whereas with LeBron, we’re talking about a 1, maybe 2-year window, and with LeBron, with that ticking clock, if that right move is not available right now in this second, that is a big, big problem. With Luka, if the right move is not available right now, in this second, you can say, ‘Well, this is unfortunate, we can maybe do something at the trade deadline. We’ve got time.’,” Lane added. “There’s more opportunity to wait and be a little bit more patient. Not that you can wait forever. And he has to be on board with it. But there is a difference between trying to win right now, in terms of the types of pieces you’re after, with LeBron, vs trying to win right now with Luka. I think there is a big difference there”.
Appease LeBron James, who might only stay for 1 more season, at the risk of losing your future? It is a big gamble. However, that is the asking price of the NBA All-Time Scorer. If not, then we might very well see him down the Bay Area colors next season. Much to the delight of the Dub Nation, no doubt!
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