According to a December 31 article by Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, Lakers' superstar LeBron James was predicted to be traded. Mannix explained that James extending his contract with the Lakers was a mistake for both parties, limiting James' leverage and the team's flexibility to build a title contender around him. If the Lakers fail to sign big-ticket items next season, the article asks, can the team go into 2023 with James, Anthony Davis, and castoffs around them?
Here are three potential destinations for James.
#1 76ers
The first potential destination is the Philadelphia 76ers, where the Lakers would receive Tobias Harris, Furkan Korkmaz, and two future first-round picks. The Lakers would like to get their hands on Tyrese Maxey, but the 76ers are unlikely to agree. Harris would accomplish for the Lakers what Herro could and come off the books in 2024. This trade would bring LeBron James, James Harden, and Joel Embiid together, creating the next-level NBA drama.
#2 Mavericks
The second potential destination for James is the Dallas Mavericks. If Doncic and Irving are James' two favorite players in the league, it makes more sense for him to want to team up with them in Dallas. If James' goal is to win another championship, he would have a higher chance if he was part of a Big 3 in Dallas rather than a duo with Irving in LA, which would cost more roster assets. The Mavs have Irving's Bird Rights, which means they can offer him a five-year max contract that other teams cannot offer. Irving and Doncic have great chemistry and seem to enjoy each other's company off the court.
#3 Trail Blazers
The third potential destination for James is the Portland Trail Blazers. In this trade, the Lakers would receive Anfernee Simons, Nassir Little, Kevin Knox II, Trendon Watford, the 5th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, a 2024 first-round pick, and the right to swap first-round picks in 2025. The Blazers would receive LeBron James and a 2025 second-round pick. Many believe that such a scenario would require the Lakers to lose in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, likely after suffering an embarrassing defeat. However, this could be the case if L.A. wins a second championship during his tenure with the Lakers.
Overall, the Lakers are predicted to make a seismic trade this year involving LeBron James. The team needs to build a title contender around James, and the current castoffs might not be enough. With three potential destinations on the table, James' next move will be closely watched by basketball fans worldwide.
Comments
Post a Comment