Los Angeles Lakers

In 2004, Jerry Buss resolved a similar no-win situation by trading Shaquille O'Neal to the Miami Heat to ensure Kobe Bryant would stay with the Los Angeles Lakers long term. Nearly 20 years later, his daughter Jeanie Buss—now the final decision-maker for the franchise—may need to make a similarly bold move with LeBron James.

Dr. Buss recognized that the O'Neal/Bryant relationship had run its course. The O'Neal trade was wildly controversial, especially when O'Neal went on to win another title with the Miami Heat. But the legendary center's career was over five years before Bryant's, and the younger guard brought two additional championships to Los Angeles.

The Lakers may be at a similar crossroads with James. If he chooses not to extend with the franchise in August, would Jeanie Buss and the Lakers' front office need to seriously contemplate trading one of the best players in NBA history?

The Lakers are currently ninth in the Western Conference with 24 regular-season games left to climb. Championship aspirations have shifted to the modest goal of finishing in seventh or eighth place for a single play-in game instead of two. The franchise could conceivably miss the playoffs with Anthony Davis out for several weeks with a foot injury.

Whatever the outcome, it will weigh heavily on LeBron James, who is eligible for a two-year contract extension this summer. Without the clarity of an extension, the Lakers won't be able to invest any future assets into the LeBron era.

The speculation on James' future has already begun, and the Cleveland Cavaliers could be a real possibility.

"The door's not closed on that," James told Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. "I don't know what my future holds. I don't even know when I'm free."

That would be July 1, 2023.

The Lakers need an answer ahead of the NBA draft in late June and free agency in July before the 2022-23 roster comes together. Should James commit, the team will need to improve upon this season's subpar product. With Russell Westbrook likely to opt into the final year of his deal at $47.1 million, his contract may be slightly more palatable as an expiring—especially if Los Angeles is offering a pair of distant (presumably post-James) first-rounders in 2027 and 2029.

That's not a simple job for Buss and president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka to execute. But it may be a lot easier than the alternative if James won't commit.

If James is dead set on another run with the Cavaliers, the Lakers will face the same dilemma the Brooklyn Nets saw with James Harden before the Feb. 10 deadline. Superstars pick their destinations, especially near the end of their contracts. That's precisely how Davis landed in Los Angeles via trade from the New Orleans Pelicans.

Once word spread through NBA front offices that Harden was going to the Philadelphia 76ers eventually either by trade or free agency, that was that. The threat (or perhaps acceptance of reality) was enough to inspire the Nets to get value back in return via trade (Ben Simmons, Andre Drummond, Seth Curry and two first-round picks).

If motivated, the Cavaliers can get to enough cap room to max out James at $46.7 million for the 2022-2023 season. It can work, even if All-Star Darius Garland gets a full extension this summer, starting at approximately $31.8 million (provided he doesn't earn above the standard 25 percent max). The Cavaliers would need to hold the line on spending elsewhere and find a team to take Lauri Markkanen's contract off its books.

Just that threat—the possibility alone that the Cavaliers can sign James outright in free agency—could be enough to scare away all other suitors. The Lakers could find a market of one team, just Cleveland.

The decision could amount to trading one of the NBA's marquee superstars or letting him walk for nothing.

The Cavaliers can put together several different packages to reach the $35.5 million in outgoing salary for James, who will earn $44.5 million next season. Kevin Love can get Cleveland most of the way there with his expiring $28.9 million. If not Love, the team could offer different combinations that could include Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman, Markkanen, Caris LeVert, Dylan Windler, Dean Wade and/or Lamar Stevens.

Collin Sexton (currently out with a knee injury) will be a restricted free agent potentially available for a sign-and-trade. That's not prohibitive, but it would lock the Lakers into a hard cap at roughly $153.6 million. It's worth noting that Sexton is represented by Rich Paul of the Klutch Sports Group, the same agent as James and Davis.

Meanwhile, Cleveland should have all of its first-rounders over the next seven seasons, assuming its 2022 selection goes to the Indiana Pacers. But the Cavaliers would need assurances that James will stick for several years. That might be solved in an extend-and-trade, which could lock James in through 2024-25 at $95.7 million.

The smart move for Cleveland (or any team who covets James, including the Lakers) would be to draft Bronny James, who projects to be in the 2024 class. James has indicated he'll "do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year."

LeBron's going wherever Bronny goes 🤝

(via @ByJasonLloyd) pic.twitter.com/lFEGnLxJxN

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 19, 2022

Bronny James will finish high school almost exactly when James' current contract expires. The All-Star is very much a family man. He may not want to relocate any time soon, with another young son (Bryce James) just getting started at Sierra Canyon.

This is not a one-sided difficult decision. James will need to do some serious soul-searching as well, and he may choose to stay with the Lakers until he gets the chance to play with Bronny.

If he does choose to move on after his contract expires, and if Cleveland is indeed his next destination, is a package built around Sexton, Markkanen and one or two first-round picks enough for the Lakers? If the Lakers' ask is for Evan Mobley or All-Stars Jarrett Allen or Garland, that will be a "no" from Cleveland. Even Okoro may be off-limits.

Remember, the Cavaliers would be paying to get James a season earlier. The team can wait for 2023-24, which is why Cleveland has leverage if James decides to return.

If the Lakers don't want Sexton, Markkanen or the other players listed from the Cavaliers, Cleveland might need to recruit a third or fourth team into a theoretical deal. Another factor to consider is the $60-75 million in cap space the Lakers project to have for the 2023 offseason without James.

Is the team better served with that spending power instead of taking what Cleveland has to offer? Would the picks be enough value for the Lakers to see their cap room drop more than half to the $25-$38 million range in the summer of 2023?

And while the Lakers are certainly welcome to scour the market for offers from the other 28 teams, if James chooses the Cavaliers like Harden picked the Sixers, the options will be significantly limited.

Also, if the Lakers and James go separate ways, what happens with Davis, who is under contract through 2024-25 (but with an early termination option after the 2023-24 season)? Do the Lakers look to build around the often-injured almost-29-year old? Would the answer be a complete rebuild?

The Lakers aren't looking to trade James, and there's no evidence that James is looking to leave. But each of these questions hinges on what James chooses to do in August, and L.A. will need a decision within the next four months.

               

Email Eric Pincus at eric.pincus@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter, @EricPincus.

There was plenty of discussion over All-Star Weekend about whether LeBron James will eventually return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he reportedly is in no hurry to leave the Los Angeles Lakers.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium appeared on Wednesday's episode of the Pat McAfee Show and reported, "I personally don't see a scenario where LeBron James is bolting from the Lakers to the Cavs. ... From everything I've been told his plan is to be a Laker for the foreseeable future."

While James is under contract with the Lakers through the 2022-23 campaign, his future with the team remains a headline topic as the Purple and Gold struggle this season.

"The door's not closed on that," James told Jason Lloyd of The Athletic when talking about a potential return to Cleveland. "I'm not saying I'm coming back and playing, I don't know. I don't know what my future holds. I don't even know when I'm free."

He also stressed how important it is to eventually play with his son, Bronny, who will be eligible for the 2024 NBA draft.

The King will forever be a legend in Cleveland after leading the Cavaliers to five different NBA Finals over his two different stints with the team that drafted him, including when they won the 2016 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors.

However, Cleveland has built a young contender in the Eastern Conference, and insider Marc Stein reported the team might not "jump" at the opportunity to bring him back at this stage.

Then there is James' relationship with the Lakers, which has reportedly soured since they won the 2019-20 title inside the Walt Disney World Resort bubble. Bill Oram of The Athletic reported James' camp is not happy that general manager Rob Pelinka remained idle at the trade deadline even among the team's struggles.

"The situation is tense enough that one source close to the Lakers likened it to the early days of a war," Oram reported. 

Yet the report also cites sources who said LeBron has held more power within the organization than even Kobe Bryant did and was a driving factor in the acquisition of Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook.

The Davis trade helped Los Angeles win the championship in 2020, but the Westbrook acquisition has largely been a failure to this point. The Lakers are 27-31 this season and sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference standings.

They could be well on their way to a play-in tournament spot and perhaps an early postseason exit, so James' future figures to remain a major talking point.           

A power struggle is reportedly brewing within the Los Angeles Lakers with superstar player LeBron James and general manager Rob Pelinka at the root of it.

According to Bill Oram of The Athletic, the situation is "tense," as James and Klutch Sports Group partner Rich Paul have taken issue with Pelinka for not ceding to their desires.

Most notably, LeBron is reportedly unhappy about Pelinka's inaction at the trade deadline amid the Lakers' struggles this season.

Oram added that a source told him the vibe within the organization feels like "the early days of a war."

With action set to resume following the All-Star break, the Lakers are just 27-31, placing them ninth in the Western Conference.

They have been a huge disappointment considering they are two seasons removed from a championship and are led by the superstar duo of James and Anthony Davis.

Both James and Davis have been banged up at times this season, and Davis is expected to miss at least the next few weeks with an ankle injury. His absence could make it difficult for the Lakers to make any headway in the standings.

Oram noted that it wasn't accurate when Pelinka said he was in "alignment" with James and Davis regarding the decision not to make a trade at the deadline.

LeBron reportedly wanted Pelinka to do something, but the GM was unwilling to part with the team's 2027 first-round pick since it likely represents their best chance of making some improvements during the offseason.

Per Oram, Pelinka's decision not to kowtow to James may have partly stemmed from the fact that acquiring Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards this past offseason was at James' behest.

That move has turned out to be a disaster, as Westbrook has struggled and hasn't meshed well with LeBron or AD.

Now, the Lakers are in a situation where even if they make the playoffs, they will be hard-pressed to avoid a first-round exit against a team like the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies.

If that is the case, it isn't outside the realm of possibility that LeBron could push for the Lakers to trade him during the offseason, as he isn't set to become a free agent until 2023.

James seemingly planted some seeds for his life after the Lakers during NBA All-Star Weekend in Cleveland when he spoke to Jason Lloyd of The Athletic.

LeBron said the "door's not closed" when speaking on the subject of potentially returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers for a third stint. He also made it clear that his last season in the NBA will be spent playing alongside his son, Bronny James, if Bronny makes it to the league.

With James already looking ahead and the Lakers seemingly nowhere near contending for a championship, it is possible the four-time NBA champion, NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP is nearing the end of the line in L.A.

The Los Angeles Lakers have made several moves to please LeBron James over the past four years, potentially giving him more control over the organization than Kobe Bryant ever had.

"As important as Bryant was to the Lakers, sources inside the organization have long said that not even the legendary Black Mamba wielded as much power within the organization as James now has," Bill Oram of The Athletic reported.

James and his agent Rich Paul were driving forces behind the Lakers acquiring Anthony Davis, while the offseason trade for Russell Westbrook came after general manager Rob Pelinka "yielded to James' management instincts," according to Oram. 

LeBron is reportedly still upset the Lakers were idle at the trade deadline, failing to improve a squad that sits 27-31 after the All-Star break.

"The situation is tense enough that one source close to the Lakers likened it to the early days of a war," Oram reported. 

James remains under contract through the 2022-23 season, but the divide could be enough for a split this offseason.

It's a surprising development considering how much the Lakers have placated the superstar, creating a veteran roster in 2021-22 that has failed to reach expectations. The Westbrook trade has especially disappointed, with the guard producing just .038 win shares per 48 minutes, per Basketball Reference—the lowest since his rookie year. 

The strategy of pleasing superstars is not uncommon for Los Angeles, however, with Bryant also getting plenty of say in personnel moves.

The Lakers notably traded away Shaquille O'Neal in 2004, splitting a duo that won three NBA titles together. After three up-and-down seasons without Shaq, the team traded for Pau Gasol, whom Bryant was a fan of prior to the deal. 

The team also overpaid to keep Bryant late in his career, signing him to a two-year, $49.5 million contract after he tore his Achilles in 2013. 

In 2017, Pelinka was hired as the Lakers general manager after serving as Bryant's agent. 

Los Angeles is once again making moves to keep a star player happy, but the relationship with LeBron might not last.    

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James raised some eyebrows during NBA All-Star Weekend when he suggested a return to Cleveland could be in the cards, but the Cavaliers reportedly may not be clamoring for that to happen.

NBA journalist Marc Stein said Tuesday that while most assume the Cavs would "jump" at the chance to bring LeBron back into the fold, he "really [doesn't] think that's the case."

James, who has had two separate stints with the Cavaliers during his career, told Jason Lloyd of The Athletic that the "door's not closed" on him returning eventually.

The 37-year-old veteran added: "I'm not saying I'm coming back and playing, I don't know. I don't know what my future holds. I don't even know when I'm free."

LeBron is among the biggest sports heroes in the history of Cleveland, although it wasn't always that way. James initially left the franchise for the Miami Heat in free agency in 2010 after a seven-year run in Cleveland.

Cavs fans looked on as James took the Heat to four straight NBA Finals and won two championships, but his story wasn't fully written in Cleveland.

James returned in free agency in 2014 and spent four more seasons with the Cavs. He took them to four consecutive NBA Finals, and in 2016, he led the way as Cleveland won its first and only NBA championship.

Because of the title, the reaction wasn't nearly as sharp when LeBron left again in 2018 to sign with the Lakers.

James is now in the midst of his fourth season in L.A., and it has been a struggle. Running mate Anthony Davis is out for at least the next few weeks with an ankle injury, and the Lakers are just ninth in the Western Conference with a 27-31 record.

The Lakers are just two years removed from James and Davis leading them to a championship, but they dropped off significantly last season when both LeBron and AD missed time due to injury, and they haven't recovered this season.

Since there is no immediate path toward the Lakers upgrading their roster in a big way, it has led to speculation regarding whether James might leave Los Angeles when he becomes a free agent in 2023.

If James does leave, Cleveland could be an attractive landing spot since it is his home, and the Cavs are a team on the rise.

With Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and rookie sensation Evan Mobley leading the way, the Cavaliers have been one of the NBA's most pleasant surprises this season, as they are 35-23 and tied for third in the Eastern Conference.

While it can be argued that bringing in a huge star like James would disrupt the balance the Cavaliers are cultivating, it is hard to envision the Cavs turning down the opportunity to sign a four-time NBA champion, NBA MVP and NBA Finals MVP if it came about.

Whether that happens will likely depend heavily on how the Lakers fare the rest of this season and next.

Not only did the Los Angeles Lakers not have any interest in including their 2027 first-round pick in a hypothetical Russell-Westbrook-for-John-Wall trade with the Houston Rockets, but they also reportedly wouldn't even entertain a pick swap.

ESPN's Zach Lowe reported on his The Lowe Post podcast (h/t Jacob Rude of Silver Screen & Roll) that Houston would have considered a pick swap. However, the Lakers didn't reciprocate that interest.

Even prior to the deadline, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that the Purple and Gold did not want to trade this pick in the potential deal. Insider Marc Stein reported as much back in January.

A pick swap would have been a new twist, especially since it remains to be seen what each team's respective roster would look like and where their picks would land in a future draft. Alas, Los Angeles didn't even want to do that.

Rude suggested it was further proof Los Angeles' front office sees the current team as unfixable and didn't want to sacrifice any future assets as a temporary bandage.

To say the Westbrook acquisition hasn't worked out as planned would be quite the understatement, as the nine-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer has been a poor fit at times alongside the ball-dominant LeBron James and is shooting just 29.9 percent from three-point range on the season.

He has found himself on the bench in critical moments, and the Lakers are just 27-31 and ninth in the Western Conference standings. That is far from the championship-or-bust expectations that were in place at the beginning of season.

Yet there was no guarantee that trading for Wall would have been an improvement. He hasn't even played since April 2021, sat out the entire 2019-20 campaign and hasn't appeared in more than 41 games in a season since 2016-17.

He's a five-time All-Star, but durability is a major concern. There are also aspects of his game that are not that different from Westbrook, seeing as how he relies on his athleticism and is not a great shooter (32.3 percent from deep in his career).

Perhaps that uncertainty also played a role in Los Angeles turning down Houston even when it came to a pick swap.

After reuniting with Hall of Famer Michael Jordan during Sunday's NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James reflected on his encounters with the legend in an Instagram post on Monday.

James shared photos from his first encounter with Jordan two decades ago and his most recent meeting with the Chicago Bulls legend at the NBA 75th Anniversary celebration.

Lebron + MJ.
Two decades apart.
🐐🐐

(via @KingJames) pic.twitter.com/jGXE4vQ70w

— UPROXX (@UPROXX) February 22, 2022

He also shared this video from Sunday's special moment:

Michael Jordan and LeBron James share a special moment at the #NBA75 Ceremony.

Greatness. pic.twitter.com/wrRYwtGYzy

— NBA (@NBA) February 21, 2022

James also praised Jordan after hitting the game-winning shot in Sunday's All-Star Game and discussed what he has meant to him over the course of his career:

LeBron James said his game-winning fadeaway was inspired by Michael Jordan and he talked about what he’s meant to his career. pic.twitter.com/89Vn5XTrGh

— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) February 21, 2022

Jordan and James are widely considered two of the best players in NBA history. 

James, who is in his 19th season in the NBA, is an 18-time All-Star, four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP, among numerous other accolades. He's averaging 27.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.4 assists while shooting 50.5 percent from the floor and 34.5 percent from deep in his career. 

Jordan, meanwhile, is a 14-time All-Star, six-time NBA champion, five-time MVP and 10-time scoring champion among many more accolades. He averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 49.7 percent from the floor and 32.7 percent from deep in 15 seasons. 

There's been an ongoing debate about which player is the greatest of all time, but that likely won't be settled until James' career officially comes to an end. 

Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard and impending free agent Malik Monk said that he'd "love to play" for L.A. again but that it was hard to prognosticate his future plans at this time.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look at my future with anything,” Monk told Jovan Buha of The Athletic in an exclusive interview. "I love it here. I’d love to play here again, man. But you never know what’s gonna happen with the NBA. You never know what happens. It’s a business, at the end of the day. But I’d definitely love to play here. But I don’t know. It’s hard to call the future."

Monk signed a one-year, $1,789,256 contract with L.A. last offseason. The fifth-year veteran has averaged 13.0 points on 47.1 percent shooting (39.9 percent from three-point range), 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists this year.

Thanks to those efforts, the 24-year-old undoubtedly played himself into a longer and far more lucrative deal next offseason.

Monk has notably excelled since Dec. 25, averaging 16.8 points on 48.8 percent shooting (43.1 percent from three-point range), 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

He's started 17 games during that span as a replacement for Anthony Davis or LeBron James, who both sat due to injuries. Davis is still out with a mid-foot sprain.

The ex-Kentucky star has bailed the Lakers out on multiple occasions, including a 29-point effort in a comeback win over the New York Knicks on Feb. 5. He also averaged 23.3 points per game during a four-game win streak from Dec. 31-Jan. 7.

L.A. is notably better when Monk's hot, going 8-2 in the 10 games where he's scored 22 or more points. Naturally, the Lakers should look to bring him back into the mix, although he'll undoubtedly have suitors after his big year.

For now, Monk will continue playing big minutes as a starter in the Lakers' lineup. This season hasn't gone well for L.A., which is just 27-31 and sitting in ninth place in the Western Conference, but a 106-101 win over the Utah Jazz before the All-Star Break could set the team off on the right foot for the stretch run.

In case you missed LeBron James' media blitz over All-Star weekend, one thing is clear: He's fed up with Los Angeles Lakers management and wants action.

Now.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported James' "primary goal" is to "force the Lakers into major action" this summer by overhauling their roster. While many speculated—thanks in part to James' own words—that LeBron would attempt to force his way out of Los Angeles, Windhorst's report indicates that is not the case (for now).

The Lakers are in the midst of a miserable 27-31 season that features arguably the most miscast roster of James' professional career. James played a large part in the team's roster construction, with the Lakers compiling one of the oldest rosters in NBA history over the summer, but it's clear he was frustrated by the front office's inaction at the trade deadline.

Eric Pincus of B/R reported that the relationship between Klutch Sports, James' agency, and Lakers management is "at its lowest point." There is reportedly significant frustration with general manager Rob Pelinka, who refused to add the Lakers' 2027 first-round pick to a proposed trade that would have sent Russell Westbrook to Houston for John Wall (a Klutch client). 

Westbrook, who was acquired this summer at the behest of James and Anthony Davis, according to insider Marc Stein, has proved to be a miserable fit next to the two stars. Coach Frank Vogel has benched Westbrook at multiple points this season, leading to some clear tension between the two.

The James-Westbrook pairing, in particular, has been fraught from the start. Westbrook is a non-shooter who loses nearly all of its effectiveness when taken off the ball—the worst possible type of player to pair with the ball-dominant James.

The Lakers are bound to Westbrook through 2022-23, assuming he opts into his no-brainer $47.1 million player option for next season. James will also be a free agent after next season, meaning the Lakers will have to peddle Westbrook and future draft picks together this offseason in the hopes of repairing their relationship with James.

The four-time NBA MVP seemed happy back home in Cleveland over All-Star weekend and even hinted at a return for a third stint with the Cavaliers.

"The door's not closed on that," James told The Athletic's Jason Lloyd. "I'm not saying I'm coming back and playing. I don't know. I don't know what my future holds. I don't even know when I'm free."

James also said he's determined to continue his career to play with his son, Bronny James, should he make the NBA. Bronny James won't be eligible for the NBA draft until 2024.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James hit the game-winning shot in Sunday's NBA All-Star Game in front of family and friends at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland to give his team a 163-160 win over Team Durant.

The four-time NBA champion described the surreal moment after the game.

"I couldn't have dreamt it," James told reporters. "I could not have dreamed of that moment, any better than the actuality that just happened."

"I could not have dreamed of that moment, any better than the actuality that just happened."@KingJames with an incredible, emotional answer on what it meant to hit an #NBAAllStar game-winner in Cleveland, with his friends and family present. pic.twitter.com/2wEXpihTHr

— NBA (@NBA) February 21, 2022

James finished the All-Star Game with 24 points, six rebounds, eight assists, three steals and one block in 36 minutes.

Hitting the winning shot at the All-Star Game in Cleveland couldn't have been any more perfect for James. He has spent 11 of his 19 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected him first overall in the 2003 NBA draft. 

James' first stint with the Cavs came from 2003 to 2010. The Akron native then joined the Miami Heat for four seasons before returning to Cleveland for the 2014-15 season. The 37-year-old led the Cavs to an NBA title in 2016 and remained with the franchise through the 2017-18 season. 

James is in his fourth season with the Lakers and led them to an NBA title in 2020. His two-year, $85.7 million contract with the franchise expires next season.

It's unclear if James wants to remain in Los Angeles, but he told The Athletic's Jason Lloyd that he would be open to a return to Cleveland. 

"The door's not closed on that," James said Saturday. "I'm not saying I'm coming back and playing, I don't know. I don't know what my future holds. I don't even know when I'm free."

It wouldn't be surprising to see James end his career where it began. However, he has been adamant about wanting to play in the NBA with his oldest son, Bronny James, who will be eligible for the 2024 draft.

James told Lloyd he will spend his last year in the league playing alongside his son. If the Cavaliers want him back, they'll likely have to draft Bronny to make it happen.