LeBron James

Lakers star LeBron James made it clear following Wednesday's loss to the Miami Heat that he doesn't want to continue playing losing basketball.

Those comments have led Lakers columnist Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times to write that the Purple and Gold should trade James instead of meeting his demands to upgrade the roster in a meaningful way, which almost surely would cost the franchise its 2027 and 2029 first-round draft picks.

Plaschke wrote:

It has long been believed the Lakers wouldn't have the brashness to make such a deal. But now he's given them a reason. They're not dumping a legend, they're simply abiding by his request, which changes the scenario completely.

Seriously, how much longer can they believe that James is still capable of leading a young core into the playoffs? When are they finally going to admit that James is a wasted talent without contributions from Davis, and when are they going to realize Davis might never be a consistent star again?

Continuing to build a team around James with the expectation that he is still capable of carrying a team of role players to a title is the definition of insanity.

The Lakers dropped to 14-21 with Wednesday's loss, and they sit 13th in the Western Conference as they continue to plummet in the standings in the absence of star center Anthony Davis.

After the game, James told reporters he doesn't want to finish his career "playing at this level from a team aspect." He added:

I'm a winner, and I want to win. And I want to win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships. That has always been my passion. That has always been my goal since I entered the league as an 18-year-old kid out of Akron, Ohio.

And I know it takes steps to get there, but once you get there and know how to get there, playing basketball at this level just to be playing basketball is not in my DNA. It's not in my DNA anymore. So we'll see what happens and see how fresh my mind stays over the next couple years.

This is the second straight season the Lakers have underperformed. During the 2021-22 campaign, the Purple and Gold finished 11th in the Western Conference with a 33-49 record and missed the playoffs.

James, who will turn 38 on Friday, might feel like the Lakers are wasting what little time he has left in the NBA. The four-time MVP is looking to win his fifth NBA title, and that doesn't look like it's going to happen in L.A.

James, in his 20th NBA season, has played well, averaging 27.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 27 games while shooting 49.8 percent from the floor and 29.7 percent from deep.

However, the Lakers couldn't build a contending roster around James and Davis during the offseason because of their contracts and that of Russell Westbrook. So, the Purple and Gold was left with mediocre talent to fill out the remaining spots.

That being said, James isn't solely to blame for L.A.'s struggles. When the team had a solid roster in 2019-20, James delivered, helping lead the Lakers to their first NBA title since 2010.

If the Lakers were going to entertain the idea of trading James, it's unclear what the franchise would expect for him. Typically, a player of James' caliber would fetch a haul, but if he demands a trade, the franchise won't have much leverage.

Additionally, James is under contract through the 2024-25 campaign after agreeing to a two-year, $97.1 million extension with the Lakers in August. That contract would be a lot for many contending teams.

It might take a Christmas miracle to save the 2022-23 Los Angeles Lakers.

Los Angeles' losing streak extended to four Sunday thanks to its 124-115 loss to the Dallas Mavericks in a Christmas Day showdown at American Airlines Center. The Purple and Gold were once again without Anthony Davis because of a foot injury and fell to an ugly 13-20 on the season.

At this point, the playoffs seem like a long shot at best.

LeBron James carried his team with 38 points, six rebounds and five assists, but his supporting cast had nowhere near enough pieces to keep up with Luka Dončić and Co. on the road.

Social media certainly noticed:

It seemed like the Lakers were going to earn a much-needed win against a Western Conference playoff contender when they built an 11-point halftime lead. James was in full control, Russell Westbrook was providing a spark off the bench and the supporting cast was doing enough on the defensive side to keep the home team at bay.

And then the third quarter happened.

The Mavericks poured in 51 points in an overwhelming third quarter that saw Los Angeles counter with just 21. It was a beautiful or ugly display of basketball depending on which side one focused on, and it left the visitors fighting an uphill battle with any comeback hopes heading into the final stretch.

James did what he could by shifting into takeover mode in the fourth quarter, but Dallas had an answer every time thanks in large part to its outside shooting (18 three-pointers).

Attention now turns to a road game against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday as the Lakers attempt to snap out of this sluggish stretch.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James saluted former teammate Dwyane Wade on being a nominee for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Class of 2023.

Wade, a 13-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion, is among the first-time nominees. He's widely expected to go in on the first ballot. Basketball Reference gives him 100 percent Hall of Fame odds based on his résumé.

Wade averaged 22.0 points, 5.4 assists ad 4.7 rebounds per game over 16 seasons and was one of the best 2-guards of his era. A member of the NBA's 75th anniversary team, he came in at No. 26 when ESPN ranked the greatest players ever in 2020 and at No. 28 when The Athletic published its own list in 2022.

No player has been more closely associated with D-Wade than LeBron.

Wade and James spent four-plus seasons together, first with the Miami Heat and then with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Their reunion in Northeast Ohio only lasted 46 games before Wade headed back south to Miami.

During their four-year Heat run, the pair won two titles. Along with Chris Bosh, they helped usher in a new era in the NBA. Increased player empowerment was probably inevitable as the league's revenues rose, but The Decision is the clear demarcation point when top stars began wielding more influence and control over their careers.

The Hall of Fame will announce its newest inductees on April 1 during the weekend of the 2023 Final Four. Assuming Wade is among the honorees, you can expect James to be in attendance when he officially joins the game's icons at the enshrinement ceremony in August.

LeBron James did his part, but the Los Angeles Lakers weren't good enough as a team Wednesday to avoid a 134-120 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

James scored a game-high 31 points to go with 11 assists, six rebounds and two blocks, plus some impressive highlights on both ends of the floor:

The problem was the lack of help with Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and Austin Reeves among those unavailable due to injury.

Fans were quick to criticize the supporting cast during the double-digit loss:

The defense was especially an issue with Davis out with a foot injury. Four different Kings players scored at least 20 points with six hitting double figures. Domantas Sabonis had 13, points, 21 rebounds and 12 assists with the Lakers unable to compete inside.

Los Angeles fell to 13-18 with the latest loss, putting them 13th out of 15 Western Conference teams. A home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Friday could be an opportunity to turn things around, but the rest of the team must figure out how to pick up the slack.