The Lakers are still figuring out what to do with LeBron James. In this proposed deal they send him to Cleveland for one last homecoming while also building for Luka Doncic's future in LA.
The Lakers are entering a new era, with LeBron James running out of time and Luka Doncic quickly becoming the face of the franchise. This shift has placed James in an unfamiliar position—he is no longer the clear leader or in control of the roster.
“He's still that good. I don't think it's his last year, but the fact that the Lakers did not discuss a 1-in-1, or a 2-in-1, or contracts beyond this year with him. They just let him sit back... that tells you a lot. It's not in his control with LA,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said.
Initially, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst didn’t believe a trade involving James was likely for the Lakers. However, recent developments have at least opened the door to the possibility.
“My conversations over the last 3 days have crystallized that the Lakers are essentially viewing LeBron as an expiring contract... I'm just unlocking the door because I am not as convinced as before if it's impossibility,” Windhorst said.
While it remains unlikely that James will be moved from Los Angeles, that hasn’t stopped teams from calling the Lakers. Heavy.com’s Max Dible outlined a potential trade scenario in which the Lakers send James and Deandre Ayton to Cleveland in exchange for Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen.
“Los Angeles is already thinking long term about how to best build around Luka Doncic, which is part of the reason James may push for a trade in the coming weeks and/or months, and doing so is likely to involve the pursuit of multiple All-Stars. Garland and Allen could fit the bill well. Allen, 27, fills the roles of lob threat and rim protector the Lakers want alongside Doncic. The team could stagger Doncic and Garland to keep an All-Star ball-handler/scorer on the point for all 48 minutes, which would also minimize the defensive deficiencies created by playing the two next to each other in the backcourt too frequently,” Dible wrote.
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This proposed deal would focus solely on the Lakers’ future while giving the Cavaliers one last chance for a homecoming with James. Whether or not James is traded remains to be seen, but if it happens, the deal will be crafted around Doncic’s roster preferences.
Category: General Sports
