Can We Talk LeBron Yet?

[NYG]

From the rumors out there, something seems odd about the current LeBron on the Lakers situation. Will he get traded? If so, which teams even make sense? What is his value?

[SkyHook]

Trades involving him are going to be challenging, both from the salary matching standpoint and in terms of value. I wonder if the Lakers just want him to ask for a buyout at this point.

[ecuhus1981]

His value is a moving target, since he has a no trade clause. LeBron can make things difficult, if he doesn't want the Lakers to extract too much value from the team he desires. In response, the Lakers will probably just decline watered down offers from LBJ's preferred teams, and he stays.

[Devilanche]

They probably just going to trade something for an upgrade that probably won’t be enough and appease LeGM.

[OxAndFox]

It's a weird situation. With LeBron's salary, his obvious want to be on a contender and trade restrictions all around, I don't see a move unless he really forces it.
Between getting to a legal trade standpoint and Lakers wanting to agree to it, just doesn't make sense. There's probably something out there, but either the team trading for LeBron, or the Lakers, are going to be pretty unhappy.

[GatherStepGuru]

Cavs: DeAndre Hunter + Jarrett Allen + Struss + picks for Bron

Heat: Wiggins + Kasparas + Ware + picks for something around Bron

Didn’t think these out much, nor looked at contracts, but I think if he leaves, it’s to have a sunset in a meaningful place, while having a chance to win

[ReggiesKnicks]

LeBron is simply posturing, which he always does since he wants to win. The Lakers are in a tough place, with their biggest out being 2026 cap space with all of this.

The Lakers also need to appease their star for the next decade, Luka Doncic.

LeBron wants them to make a move to improve the team this year. The Lakers want to both improve this year and also retain maximum flexibility moving forward in 2026 for Luka. It's a difficult spot to be in for the Lakers, but they chose this path.

Ultimately the likelihood of a trade isnt likely.

[NYG]

I'm so scared it's going to be Bridges, Hart and Mitch for LeBron

[OxAndFox]

Cavs: DeAndre Hunter + Jarrett Allen + Struss + picks for Bron

Heat: Wiggins + Kasparas + Ware + picks for something around Bron

Didn’t think these out much, nor looked at contracts, but I think if he leaves, it’s to have a sunset in a meaningful place, while having a chance to win

I don't think there's a chance either Cleveland nor Miami think about that TBH. I know LeBron is LeBron and all, but he's 40 and Allen was probably better than him last season when you factor in both sides of the ball.
Ware is a baby and is going to be extremely good. Don't see him, Kasparas nor picks (1st rounders anyway) being in a trade for LeBron. It wouldn't put Miami in THAT much of a better position.

[giberish]

I'd be shocked if there was any real trade talk.

There's also a bunch of issues - how much LeBron makes, LeBron's no-trade clause, and finally the huge difference between his on-court value and his revenue-generation value. There's really no way to make everyone even close to happy in such a deal.

[165bows]

They are just waiting for Niang and Simons to be able to be aggregated

[Darren]

Cavs: DeAndre Hunter + Jarrett Allen + Struss + picks for Bron

Heat: Wiggins + Kasparas + Ware + picks for something around Bron

Didn’t think these out much, nor looked at contracts, but I think if he leaves, it’s to have a sunset in a meaningful place, while having a chance to win

That's way too much for a rental. Cavs can't win all without significant depth. The season past 2026 will be miserable.

[Snakebites]

No team will trade for a rental as expensive (salary-wise) as LeBron unless it puts them in a spot they believe they can win from.

That already limits you to a few teams, a number reduced further by the no-trade clause which more or less allows LeBron to choose his spot.

From there the packages will be limited- the team needs to have enough left besides LeBron to push forward- and they must do this while also matching that salary. Oh, and LeBron also probably doesn’t want any team to give up core pieces he’d like to play with, either.

Is anything possible once you’ve passed through all of those filters?

[HeatIn5]

Heat would offer like Wiggins, Rozier and Jaime for Bron and Bronny and not much more i'd think.

[cornchip]

It seems to me that if Lebron wants to be in Cleveland, he'll be in Cleveland. It's really him and his team deciding if they want to be traded there.

Cleveland would have to trade their depth (Hunter, Strus, etc.) to get under the 2nd apron and from there it's probably Garland + salary for Lebron. It would be risky but I think Cleveland would do it. Even if they were to trade their depth and Garland, they would still be contenders. Plus the league would love it and give them every little nudge and break.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

If a LeBron trade isn’t announced by Monday I’m not sure he is traded before the deadline. Don’t seeing the lakers willing to take on 50 million of dead salary and waste a season just to trade him.

[dcstanley]

Lakers have a 52 million dollar expiring. Is it really worth trading Lebron for players that aren't better than him with longer running contracts?

[Mavrelous]

I'm keeping an eye on the Heat, they have 50M of dead salary, if they get Beal on a buy out, they will make a play.
Mavs should, but seems like they don't want LeBron media circus with Cooper on the team, and I torally understand.
In case of a buyout, he's going to Cleveland.

[dowhatnow]

LeBron and the Lakers can come to a meeting of the minds on a reasonable buyout amount.
The Lakers can start the season being done with any LeBron drama and prepare their future cap situations to be able to sign superstars to put next to Luka.
LeBron can sign for the 3.6 million minimum with the Cavs. Even though the Cavs won 64 games last season their disappointing flame out in the second round of the playoffs leaves the door open for LeBron to come in and be the catalyst that leads them to another title while he’s still making a boatload of money from both the Lakers/Cavs

[Astaluego]

I think it would be the Knicks...
OG/Robinson for LeBron/Bronny

After this, the Knicks will either sign Horford+T.Craig

Brunson/Hart/Bridges/LeBron/Towns
Mcbridge/Clarksson/Craig/Yabusele/Horford
Kolek/Bronny/Dadiet/Hukporti

LeBron will play a couple of years there, and frankly this is a strong contender, right? Say what you want about the old Bron, but 24.4/7.8/8.2 with one of the best basketball IQs of all time... NY could use that... aside from the huge media impact.