RealGM

LeBron James was widely expected to spend the remainder of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers with the biggest questions being for how long and whether they could become a title contender again with him on the team. Now that the Lakers unexpectedly traded for Luka Doncic and are building around him, the future of James with the franchise is uncertain and could now even possibly end this offseason.

James holds a no-trade clause, which gives him a significant level of control over the situation should the parties decide to explore a trade.

"I would say that's uncertain," said Brian Windhorst on ESPN Cleveland when asked if James may finish his career with the Lakers. "One thing I feel pretty good about today, although things can pivot, is LeBron's time with the Lakers is beginning to come to an end. They are beginning to move apart. You can actually argue that started when they traded for Luka. I know everybody thought LeBron was in on that. I know I said at the time I didn't believe that—LeBron was not in on it. I don't know what else to tell you. He was not in on it. He wasn't against it. I think he was shocked they traded Anthony Davis. But LeBron was not in part of that decision process. That was a move away from LeBron as the center of the team."

Windhorst said the Lakers had previously tried to reorient their team around Davis as they are now doing with Doncic. 

"The beginning of LeBron's departure from the Lakers has begun," said Windhorst. "That departure could be into retirement. That departure could be another. But another way is on the table. I don't know how it's going to play out. I'm not going to pretend how it's going to play out.

"I have talked to the parties involved. They are not clearly stating their intentions. I am listening very closely. I'm asking questions. They are not clearly stating their intentions. So there's no way I can give you a clear answer talking to the direct sources.

"I would have said four days ago when LeBron opted into his contract, I would have said there was no chance of him getting traded. At the time, I just didn't think so. After having conversations over the last three or four days, I no longer saying there is no chance. I am not saying it's likely, but I cannot responsibly say there's no chance anymore."

Via Brian Windhorst/ESPN

LeBron traded AD for Luka so that he could leave the Lakers and they could build a future with Luka as the centerpiece.

Why wouldn't the Lakers start building towards the next chapter? I mean let's be honest here....what "future" is there with Lebron? He's had an absolutely incredible career, and if you don't consider him the outright "GOAT", he's top 2-4 all time. But it's over now. He can no longer carry a team, and he's not going to get better. It'll be the opposite. Each year.

So we move on. No shame in that from either side. If Lebron wants a trade........A) great B) good luck. I don't know who's gonna shell out $50+ mil for him. But if there is anyone....please step forward.

I'm really hoping we can get two or three more articles about this jimmied up LeBron drama using the same Windhorst quotes again today.

What a bunch of rambling nonsense

Тhere is no way in hell Lebron goes to teams that wont compete. Spurs have the roster to compete, Lebron can fit and can be an extremely good influence for that young team. In general only Rockets, Spurs and maybe one more team can let go of some mid salary players for Lebron and improve their team for the next year or two and really get more positives, so if we have to be realistic 95% of the teams either don't want to touch what they have atm or they have nothing to offer for Lebron or to Lebron, cuz you have to please both Lakers and Lebron otherwise that trade ain't happening, so long story short - no - Lebron won't get traded he will go to a new team as free agent like he did throughout his career - he was never traded and never asked to be traded, so its either that or he resigns with the Lakers next season and thats it. Media can speculate anc clickbait all they want, but this is the reality regardless of Lakers off season and mid season moves.

Ok I fell for this whole drama thing and clicked this article. Nothing intelligent was said in the piece. Not falling for this garbage again. No more reading about his highness scratching his ars and windhorst rubbing it for him.

Most teams would make the trade, most don't have Doncic though. No contender will give up 50M in assets to do it, and I know he isn't going to be a rebuilding journeyman.

If Durant has value LeBron does.

danfantastk32 wrote:Why wouldn't the Lakers start building towards the next chapter? I mean let's be honest here....what "future" is there with Lebron? He's had an absolutely incredible career, and if you don't consider him the outright "GOAT", he's top 2-4 all time. But it's over now. He can no longer carry a team, and he's not going to get better. It'll be the opposite. Each year.

So we move on. No shame in that from either side. If Lebron wants a trade........A) great B) good luck. I don't know who's gonna shell out $50+ mil for him. But if there is anyone....please step forward.

danfantastk32 wrote:Why wouldn't the Lakers start building towards the next chapter? I mean let's be honest here....what "future" is there with Lebron? He's had an absolutely incredible career, and if you don't consider him the outright "GOAT", he's top 2-4 all time. But it's over now. He can no longer carry a team, and he's not going to get better. It'll be the opposite. Each year.

So we move on. No shame in that from either side. If Lebron wants a trade........A) great B) good luck. I don't know who's gonna shell out $50+ mil for him. But if there is anyone....please step forward.

1- Bron is aware that requesting a trade may impact his legacy. He's already staring at somewhere in the top 5 for most people.

2- There's a GM desperate to lose their job every year so the Lakers will find one.

Windhorst is just the worst.

Finishing his career in Cleveland?

This **** is pathological

Awww no poor LeBron isn’t the center of the universe anymore and he can’t handle it. No surprise.

Play out the year and retire with dignity.

Lebron has always been about his own legacy and ego. He's upset that he won't be seen as the best player on the team now. He's finding out quickly that as a shell of his former self, he no longer calls the shots. First was trading for Luka, who plays exactly the same role as Lebron, they don't compliment each other so it was never going to work. Next it's going to be finding out that there isn't much of a market for a guy who plays zero defense on his age 41 season.

Lebron opting in was a little bit fishy, because usually he opts out to get the bigger payday, but I didn't see this coming. I thought that he'd rather stay and play with his son. Plus Luka takes tons of pressure off him.

At this point trading for Lebron is like the Jets trading for Aaron Rodgers 2 years ago. Somebody may take that risk, but it likely won't work out or improve the team unless the Lakers somehow pay a certain % of his contract.

"ESPN Pundit theorizes Lebron James and Lakers began moving apart with Luka Doncic trade, but confirms neither side is talking to him and really has no clue"

We are the LAKERS. We've moved on from Magic, Shaq, and other Star players. LeBron will also be a former Laker...nothing new