The Los Angeles Lakers have been active in trade talks for the entirety of LeBron James’ tenure with the team and those talks have sometimes included James as a tradable asset for the team. These rumors have heated up over the last two seasons as James pursues his fifth NBA championship, which would lift him into an elite category of players that includes Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, and Tim Duncan.
A big caveat to all James trade scenarios is his no-trade clause, which stipulates that James cannot be traded without his pre-approval of the destination.
Recently, Michel Wilbon on NBA Today suggested that James request a trade to the Golden State Warriors, which was all but put to bed by NBA insider Brian Windhorst.
NBA Executive Suggests Lakers Trade, LeBron James
But now a new contender for the King has emerged via an anonymous NBA executive who spoke with Heavy.com.
“The one place that I don’t hear a lot of talk about with LeBron is Sacramento,” the NBA executive said. “He could change them, and they might have the kind assets to make a trade work. They have a lot of young talent, and because they’re a small market, they haven’t spent like drunken sailors. They have some draft picks a young talent. If they could get to the salary, LeBron would take (De’Aron) Fox and (Domantas) Sabonis and elevate the hell out of them — particularly Fox. With that threesome, those guys could be a force.”
Sacramento currently sits in 12th place in the Western Conference, a game and a half behind the Lakers. The team is two years removed from making the Western Conference finals with both Fox and Sabonis on the roster. Last season they missed the playoffs entirely after losing to the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA Playoff Play-In Game.