Los Angeles Lakers rumors once again have popped up involving LeBron James, as the team reportedly is in play for the superstar forward.
Recent Los Angeles Lakers rumors have revolved around the team’s plans leading up to the NBA Trade Deadline. With only nine days until the trade deadline, talks are sure to heat up soon. Most of those talks, at least for the Lakers, will be about creating flexibility in the future.
It is an open secret that the Lakers want to clear cap space in hopes of landing two max free agents this summer. One of those opportunities went away on Monday when the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Clippers completed a trade involving Blake Griffin.
One of the players heading back to Los Angeles, Avery Bradley, was someone the Lakers were reportedly looking into. According to Vincent Ellis, the Lakers offered Jordan Clarkson in exchange for Bradley. The Pistons had made Bradley available, and the Lakers were looking to strike to open up cap space.
Now, we know why the Lakers and Pistons didn’t get very far in talks as Detroit was focused on landing Griffin. While that avenue is closed, you can be sure Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka and company will continue searching for ways to clear cap space.
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Clearing cap space is a risky proposition. There is no guarantee that you will be able to fill that cap space with upper echelon talent. However, when a player of LeBron James‘ caliber can be available, you do what is necessary to give yourself an opportunity to land him.
In regard to the Lakers chances to land him, they have been all over the map. In December, it was reported that the Lakers were a long shot for James’ services. However, in August, it was reported that NBA executives believe James would land with the Lakers.
We are still months away from free agency and any deals being agreed to, however, more fuel was added to the fire.
On his radio show, The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Colin Cowherd shared some news from a source. That source’s news will make Lakers fans very happy. According to Cowherd’s source, James to the Lakers is very much in play.
"“LeBron has a team of attorneys, and marketers, and shoe reps, and nutritionists, and business partners, and trainers. And that team will eventually move to the location LeBron’s going to move. And I’ll just leave it at this: let’s just say, none of his team members have a place in Houston […] This is fluid, it is happening, Lakers very much in play.”"
It is no secret that a lot of James’ off the court interests are based in Los Angeles. That is where his business ventures are based. Also, James’ wife would like to live in Southern California.
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There is a lot that will go into James’ decision in free agency. The Lakers will do all that they can to convince him that their organization is the one that he should choose next. If there is any chance, no matter how slim, that James would consider the Lakers, you can be sure that the full court press will be put on by the Lakers brass to land him.