This could be the first time in LeBron James’ 23-year NBA career that we witness him getting traded to another team instead of moving in free agency. After James picked up his $52.6 million player option for his 23rd season in the NBA, there were speculations around his future with the Lakers, as there was a clear discrepancy between what he needs the Lakers to be (championship contenders) and where they are at the moment (rebuilding around Luka Doncic).
Entering what could be the final season of his NBA career, James’ agent clarified that he wants to contend for a championship, wherever it may be. And now, NBA Insider Brian Windhorst claims his sources have given him information on how LeBron James is reacting to the offseason, especially in terms of the Lakers’ moves.
“Earlier, we had Shams and Ramona talk about how Giannis was just chilling and watching the offseason. Yeah, I am told LeBron’s just chilling and watching the offseason. Do I think he’s going to get traded? No, I do not. But if he wanted to get traded, there are teams that would step up and make offers. So those two things I think are true. And if LeBron speaks up for himself and has a different thing to say, then we could have some action. But I don’t know if that’ll happen.”
Windhorst seemed skeptical that James would eventually ask for a trade, but it seems that there is still room for that possibility.
What The Lakers Need To Become A Championship Contender To Keep LeBron
James has, through several means, clarified that he acknowledges the Lakers are in a rebuild around Doncic. But he has also indicated that he still believes they can make the right moves to contend for a championship in LA itself. However, experts believe that James could’ve picked up the player option solely with the objective to facilitate a trade in which the Lakers get some returns for him instead of letting him walk as a free agent.
But James seems to have indicated that he still has faith in the front office’s vision to build a championship-contending roster around him and Doncic. So the Lakers now need to make some moves in order to ensure that James does not request a trade to join a championship-contending team elsewhere.
To do that, they first need to communicate to James that he is no longer the cornerstone first option of this team. Following this, they need to, in a way, follow the blueprint that the Mavericks used to build a team around Doncic that went to the NBA Finals in 2024. They added Jake LaRavia from the Kings to replace the loss of Dorian Finney-Smith to the free agency market.
They need to add a lob-threat center like Dereck Lively or Daniel Gafford and a defensive wing similar to P.J. Washington for them to have a solid championship-contending team. Jake LaRavia may be young, but he certainly has the potential to play that role on the team. But can the Lakers find a suitable center to confidently say that they are potential title contenders this season? It will be interesting to see how things turn out for the Lakers.
