LeBron James remains a fascinating figure to watch as the summer progresses. For now, the rumors have quieted down a bit, but there’s still a chance he might not want to be a Laker by the start of the season. One possible reason is the rumor that he and Austin Reaves don’t enjoy sharing the court with Luka Doncic.
“LeBron does not like playing with Luka. Reaves does not like playing with Luka… This is Luka’s team now,” John Gambadoro said.
Another factor could be that the Lakers are prioritizing building a team for Doncic’s future rather than catering to James’ win-now mindset. This marks the first time in LeBron’s career that a team isn’t focused on his needs — he’s no longer the centerpiece in LA.
“He's still that good. I don't think it's his last year, but the fact that the Lakers did not discuss a 1-in-1, or a 2-in-1, or contracts beyond this year with him. They just let him sit back... that tells you a lot. It's not in his control with LA,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said.
While a trade isn’t highly likely, teams have reached out to the Lakers to inquire about what it would take to acquire James. Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale envisions James heading to Dallas in a three-team deal.
“Dallas Mavericks Receive: LeBron James. Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kyle Anderson, Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, 2029 first-round pick (their own, via Dallas). Utah Jazz Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Philadelphia's 2030 second-round pick (via Dallas), Dallas' 2032 second-round pick,” Favale wrote.
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The Mavericks would be giving up a lot in this deal, but if healthy, they would boast a starting lineup featuring Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and LeBron James. Though it would take significant effort to finalize this trade, it could definitely happen—and it would shake up the entire league.