The possibility of LeBron James leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, particularly for the Golden State Warriors, has become a popular topic of discussion among NBA fans and analysts. The undeniable chemistry he displayed with Stephen Curry during the 2024 Olympics has fueled speculation about a potential partnership. While the Lakers would undoubtedly prefer to retain their franchise cornerstone, it seems that a player as concerned with his perceived legacy could be heavily influenced to leave the team in order to chase his 5th championship ring.
But while it may be a fun prospect to entertain these ideas, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst thinks it is nothing more than what he calls a “parlor game.” Here is what he wrote for a recent article on the hottest NBA trade rumors.
Windhorst Shuts Down LeBron James Trade Rumors
“But simply, [LeBron trade rumors are] just a game. James has repeatedly made two things clear both in public and behind the scenes: He wants to be a Laker, and the trades he wants involve the Lakers making roster upgrades around him. James had chances at last season’s trade deadline and during his unrestricted free agency to consider a move. There was no drama, as he quickly and repeatedly pledged to stay.”
With James asserting publicly and privately his desire to stay in LA brings up the elephant in the room to these quixotic super team fantasies. James has a no-trade clause built into his contract, or as one league executive put it to Windhorst;
“The Lakers or any team who might want to trade for him don’t really have any say in the matter,” one league executive told ESPN. “He’s got a no-trade clause. Unless he goes in and tells [owner] Jeanie [Buss] he wants to leave, it’s not even a discussion.”
According to this report, at the very least, the Lakers are going to be looking to add talent to rebuild the team around James and Anthony Davis. And they are in desperate need of help. The Lakers are sitting at 13-11, losers of seven of their last 10 games, and near the bottom of the league in bench scoring this season, the hope of James adding another ring and LA tying the Celtics with 18 franchise NBA Championships hinge on finding key pieces in the trade market.