LeBron James is entering the last season of his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers and with speculation of James not signing an extension this summer, it is fair to question his immediate future in the purple and gold.
If the Lakers get a whiff that LeBron is looking to leave the Lakers like other teams in the past then it would be in the best interest of the team to trade LeBron, as crazy as it sounds. If Russell Westbrook is still on the team, and he likely will be, then LA is not going to win a title anyway. Flipping one year of LeBron is the best long-term play.
Admittedly, a front office convincing itself to trade the second-best player of all time is a really hard thing to do and might be something that the Lakers cannot swallow. However, if there is one thing we have learned about the NBA it is to expect the unexpected.
We have been exploring some potential trade ideas for LeBron James this offseason and there is one trade package that might seem crazy, but in reality, is one that both teams could absolutely agree to.
A potential LeBron James for Bradley Beal swap:
Fans of both teams may think this trade is ludicrous but there are certainly reasons for both the Los Angeles Lakers and Washington Wizards to say yes to this proposed trade package.
Starting with the purple and gold, let’s break down both teams’ potential points of view to explain why this trade is actually something that could make sense for both parties.