Lakers News: Pundit Wonders If LeBron James Will Force Trade To Warriors
When the news that a freshly-eliminated LeBron James was actively considering retirement following 20 legendary NBA seasons last night, the broader league world and its ecosystem of fans and pundits was aghast, and chatter quickly turned to rampant speculation. Was this a serious threat, a negotiating ploy to demand more help or a trade, or something else entirely?
Kevin O'Connor of The Ringer runs through four potential breakdowns of the kind of offseason maneuvering James could be contemplating. Most intriguingly, he floats the potential of the 19-time All-Star and four-time champion joining the team his Los Angeles Lakers just knocked out in the second round of the playoffs, the Golden State Warriors.
O'Connor notes that James' foe-turned-friend Draymond Green, who shares representation with James at Klutch Sports, has always been an active recruiter when it comes to bringing reinforcements into Golden State. James has previously revealed that Green's teammate Stephen Curry is the current player he would prefer to suit up alongside most.
KOC adds that James has also previously stated he would like to join the Warriors or his former team, the Miami Heat, if he were to move on from the Lakers, specifically citing Green's hyper-competitive style. O'Connor adds that Anthony Davis, James' current Hall of Fame co-star, has been frustratingly inconsistent on offense in the playoffs and has been dogged by health issues for years, despite only turning 30 in 2023.
James is of course under contract with the Lakers through at least the end of the 2023-24 season, at which point he has a $50.7 million player option for 2024-25. O'Connor notes that Pelinka could demand several draft picks and young players like Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody from Golden State, and could also possibly flip Davis, who also appears to be somewhat past his prime, to another club for oodles of assets. In this scenario, the Lakers could re-sign their top young talent (namely, restricted free agents Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura) with ease, and wait for another frustrated superstar to demand a trade. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic are the two prospects O'Connor offers.
It's worth mentioning here that James has never forced a trade when switching teams thus far. His Lakers also just, you know, beat the Warriors in six games, with all of both clubs' rotation players at least healthy enough to play.
Are you following us on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube yet? Join the conversation as we discuss the latest Lakers news and rumors with fans like you!
