There was some speculation that James might request a trade from the Lakers. However, as the offseason has unfolded, that hasn’t been the case. In fact, one of James’ former teammates believes he still has five years left in the tank.
“What’s he right now 41, 42? He for sure can play until 46,” Markieff Morris said about James on the Million Dollaz Worth of Game podcast. “That’s for a fact, that’s factual. He’s 42 and he’s still having the best years of his career, at 42.”
The biggest concern surrounding a possible split between James and the Lakers came down to differing timelines. James wants to win now, and it’s unclear if the Lakers are aligned with that goal.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Rich Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
A potential trade that could signal to James that the Lakers are still committed to winning would be acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo. James brought a championship to Los Angeles in 2020, and adding Antetokounmpo could significantly boost their chances of doing it again. However, such a move would likely come at the cost of a fan favorite.
“L.A. can trade its own 2031 first-rounder, its 2032 second-rounder, and swap rights to its first-round picks in 2026, ’28, ’30 and ’32.
A potential big three of Doncic, James, and Antetokounmpo could form one of the most dominant trios in NBA history.Still, parting ways with Austin Reaves would be difficult for Lakers fans. Reaves has given everything to the team and is expected to decline his player option after this season. Whether he re-signs remains unknown. Trading for Antetokounmpo would be one of the few justifiable reasons for the Lakers to let him go.
