![\"Lakers'](\"https:\/\/d.newsweek.com\/en\/full\/2712811\/lebron-james.webp?w=1600&h=900&q=88&f=3e6f55bf76b0580977db7fa3572c85b0\")
<\/p>\nShockwaves were sent through the basketball world when the Los Angeles Lakers traded for star guard Luka Doncic.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Heat Looking to Trade $96.3 Million Guard: Report The idea that Doncic would be teaming up with LeBron James was remarkable for Lakers fans.<\/p>\n
Doncic and James shared the court for a few months, but ultimately fell short in the first round of the NBA playoffs.<\/p>\n
As the 2025-26 season approaches, it remains uncertain how much longer both superstars will don the purple and gold.<\/p>\n
Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes says there is reason to believe James is destined to be traded.<\/p>\n
“The anointment of Luka Don\u010dic, the failure to reach an offseason extension, the refusal of the front office to go all-in for rotation help this past summer\u2014all of it points to a LeBron James exit,”<\/em> Hughes writes.<\/p>\n “While it’s true James has non-basketball reasons to remain based in L.A., it’s still hard to imagine him accepting status as something other than the most important figure in the franchise for a full year.<\/p>\n Especially if the Lakers aren’t a top-flight contender.”<\/p>\n Knicks’ $60 Million Big Man Named Potential Trade Candidate By Insider The Lakers’ offseason was a success in the sense that the team landed a big in Deandre Ayton, but that move alone is not enough to guarantee an NBA title.<\/p>\n “Maybe if Los Angeles was loaded with star talent, James could talk himself into accepting a more supplementary role\u2014one that still might evolve into him taking over playoff games in the spring,” Hughes added.<\/p>\n “But the West is loaded, and the Lakers’ decision not to re-up with James suggests they don’t even view him as the second star they want next to Don\u010di\u0107 whenever the team reaches contention. “<\/em><\/p>\n Some of that is understandable given James’ age, but the facts are what they are: For the first time, James isn’t his team’s most valuable asset, and his organization isn’t gunning for a title at all costs.<\/p>\n That’s not going to sit well, and it’ll eventually lead to a trade out of town.”<\/p>\n The Lakers have a clear picture of their future with Doncic at the forefront.<\/p>\n While James is not an afterthought, the 40-year-old may feel joining another team is the best move at this point in his career.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Shockwaves were sent through the basketball world when the Los Angeles Lakers traded for star guard Luka Doncic. Heat Looking to Trade $96.3 Million Guard: Report The… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":95543,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-95542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n