Last week, Michael Wilbon of NBA Countdown and Pardon the Interruption made an impassioned plea for the Los Angeles Lakers to trade LeBron James to Western Conference rivals, the Golden State Warriors. While many basketball fans were giddy with the possibility and even some Lakers fans are ready to move on from the GOAT, the reality of the situation is nowhere near as cut and dry as Mr. Wilbon would like. He even called it an “easy answer.”
Lakers-Warrior Trade Complicated
But according to veteran NBA reporter Brian Windhorst, it is not only not an easy answer, but a nearly impossible one to pull off from both sides:
“But I just wanna say a couple of things,” Windhorst stated. “First off, any trade that the Warriors make is gonna be complicated. They have only $500,000 that they’re allowed to spend more in this season. It’s first, second apron stuff — I know it’s boring. Any trade that they make, they really can’t take on more money. Guess what? The Lakers are not allowed to take on any money ’cause they’re in the first apron.
“So, it’s possible if LeBron wanted it. Also, LeBron has a no-trade clause. Also, the Lakers don’t own their first-round pick. It goes unprotected to the Atlanta Hawks.”
“Twice in the last 10 months, LeBron has had an opportunity to leave. One, at the trade deadline last year when the Warriors called. The Lakers went to LeBron and said, ‘Do you seriously wanna get traded?’ He said, ‘No.’ Last summer he became a free agent. He re-signed with the Lakers.
“LeBron has repeatedly made it clear he wants to be a Laker. And if that’s the case, he’s got a no-trade clause. There’s nothin’ really to talk about.”
This doesn’t mean James won’t be on the move before the NBA’s trade deadline on February 6th. Windhorst touched on this too;
“I would be lying if I said that there haven’t been some conversations in the league (about), ‘Would LeBron at some point this year revisit that?’” said Windhorst. “Because you remember last year at the trade deadline, the Warriors called.”
