LeBron James is now 37-years-old and is heading closer to retiring from the NBA with each season that he plays. Although he is still one of the best players in the league, the window for him to win another NBA Championship in his career is closing rather fast.
Take the 2021-22 NBA season for example. Individually, James was truly unstoppable, he was a frontrunner to win the NBA Scoring award and did everything in his power to help the Lakers win. But his efforts went in vain as the Purple and Gold failed to qualify even for the play-in tournament.
Most fans and analysts believe that LeBron and the Lakers need to move some pieces in the upcoming offseason to make a comeback next season. Some have suggested trading Anthony Davis, while others are already done with Russell Westbrook.
But popular NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith suggested the wildest trades of them all. In a recent episode of ESPN’s “First Take,” Stephen A. said the Lakers should consider trading LeBron James. Yes, we are not kidding, Smith suggested this wild trade and urged the Lakers to build around AD and Russ while trading their best player.
Upon hearing this take from Smith, Brian Windhorst couldn’t stop himself from reacting to it. Windhorst obviously disagreed with Smith’s proposal and provided a solid explanation for it as well.
(Starts at 0:40)
“You know, you are asking a very simple question, I just don’t, I can’t give that a simple answer. No, would be sort of where I start because he’s still one of the best players in the league and he’s the reason why they have the title. And any chance at winning the title in the next couple of years hinges on him. But I think we’re coming to a pinch point this season, I’m not sure everybody totally gets and that is that I believe it’s the first week of August, LeBron is eligible to sign a contract extension. It only makes sense to me that the Lakers would come to him and offer it to him. That is a huge moment for basically the rest of LeBron’s career and the short term of the Lakers. Whether they offer it to him, whether he accepts it, whether the coach that they hire, and the offseason moves that they make make him comfortable.”
He added, “But I think there are two things that I have to say that are very important here. The first is that LeBron wants to be a Laker. … He still believes he can take the Lakers to heights, he wants to be a Laker. The second thing is that… what team could want to trade for LeBron. LeBron isn’t getting traded to a team unless LeBron deems it so. I know he is under contract, he doesn’t have a no trade clause and they could trade him anywhere and by the terms of his contract he could have to go, but you can’t do that to a player of his stature and his status.”
Like Windhorst explained everything so smoothly, even if Stephen A. says that the Lakers should simply trade James, it is not that easy.
Additionally, the franchise shouldn’t panic as LeBron led the Lakers to an NBA title just two seasons ago. If the team stays healthy and they create a great roster, there is no reason for the Lakers to win another championship.
