Warning: this is an opinion, not a prediction. I work for Fansided, not for the Los Angeles Lakers or KLUTCH Sports. LeBron James neither knows who I am, nor much cares.
With that being said, the Los Angeles Lakers should trade LeBron James this summer.
LeBron is free to choose...but not to get paid
LeBron is not under contract for next season, hitting free agency while coming off another strong season despite being the oldest player in the league (by far). The Lakers cannot trade him without his consent. Nor would they ever choose to.
LeBron is free to sign with any team in the league. If he wants to join the Dallas Mavericks and team up with Cooper Flagg, he can. If he wants to play with Nikola Jokic in Denver, or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in Oklahoma City, or Giannis Antetokounmpo in Boston, he can. If he wants to play his final days in Washington like the man he has always been chasing, he may.
That doesn't mean any of those teams can offer him a salary commensurate with his production or stature, nor does it mean they would wish to bring him on board. But LeBron holds specific control over where his next team will be.
He likely wants to be paid more than the minimum, or the taxpayer mid-level exception. James has always cared about how much he is paid, and it's a hard sell going from max money to a minimum, no matter the competitive opportunity. And the teams with cap space this summer are likely not contenders, with only the Detroit Pistons an exception.
LeBron can stay in LA...if they want him
The Pistons and the Los Angeles Lakers, that is, if they can convince themselves of the contending piece. He could return to the Lakers and get paid a solid amount, even if it's a haircut on his max. Would the Lakers bring him back for two years at $60 million total? One year for $35? Would he be willing to take less and go 2-for-$50 with a player option?
The pathway to being paid is staying in Hollywood...except the Lakers have to ask themselves some hard questions. LeBron James delivered a championship to Los Angeles. He is one of the three greatest players of all time, and he probably isn't three. He was phenomenal for them in last year's playoff series win over the Houston Rockets when he turned back the clock.
He is also a terrible fit with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. All three of those players are best with the ball in their hands. LeBron can try to maximize his work as a cutter and rebounder, and Reaves can maximize his impact as an off-ball shooter, but the reality is that the Lakers cannot build the best possible team if their three highest-paid players are on-ball stars.
Yet letting James walk for nothing is painful, and they would have to work hard just to replace his impact, let alone improve the roster past that. And while James can certainly leave in free agency, his pathway to finding a competitive team that can pay him is so narrow that he may not be able to walk it.
Enter the trade idea.
Trade LeBron James!
LeBron and the Lakers can work together to find a trade suitor, a team that could use a savvy point forward who remains built like a freight train and has plenty of championship experience and leadership chops. That team can add James at a discount from trading for a player of his caliber, but compensate the Lakers by sending back a player who can help them win.
Figuring out who fits that bill is certainly a difficult task. Do the Cleveland Cavaliers offload some salary on a third team and flip Jarrett Allen to the Lakers for a LeBron homecoming? Do the Miami Heat involve Andrew Wiggins in a deal for a different homecoming? Do the Spurs take a flier? The Pistons?
Would the Lakers take on Christian Braun and Cam Johnson in exchange for LeBron going to the Denver Nuggets?
These ideas are bold, but it's the best path forward for both LeBron James and the Lakers. A trade opens up a wealth of possibilities, and it sets both up for success next season and beyond.
The Los Angeles Lakers should trade LeBron James.
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