The Lakers trade LeBron James to the 76ers for Ben Simmons, JJ Redick, Wilson Chandler, and 2 first round picks
The Lakers Perspective: It would be a very tough business decision to trade away a player like LeBron James, but this would be the best trade the Lakers could possibly get.
The Lakers would receive Chandler and Redick, who are both on expiring deals and would be gone after the season. They’d also get first-time All-Star, Ben Simmons, as their new starting point guard, who at 6’10”, 230 pounds is almost averaging a triple-double during his 2nd year in the NBA. He’s a beast and he’s going to be an All-Star caliber player for the next 12 years.
After this season is over the Lakers would no longer have Rondo, KCP, Stephenson, Beasley, Redick, and Chandler under contract which would give LA enough money to pursue a max free-agent (Kawhi) and another very good player (Middleton).
Kawhi has said all along that he wants to be in LA, but he doesn’t want to play second fiddle to LeBron. If the Lakers traded LeBron, Kawhi would be free to come to the Lakers and be their superstar. Then, the Lakers could add a very good player in Middleton to help with their shooting and defense.
If this scenario did play out, the Lakers team would like this:
Starters:
- PG: Simmons
- SG: Middleton
- SF: Leonard
- PF: Kuzma
- C: Zubac
Bench:
- Ball
- Hart
- Ingram
- Chandler
That’s a young team, all under Lakers control for at least 2 years, that could easily win a championship next year.
The 76ers Perspective: They’re in win-now mode, and no other transaction could help the 76ers “win-now” more than the trade I described above.
Sure, the 76ers would love to keep Simmons, but the trio of LeBron, Embiid, and Butler would almost certainly guarantee Philidelphia a trip to the finals this year and if Butler stays, then next year as well. What more could a team who wants to win ask for?