Weeks ago, shortly after LeBron James opted into his $52.6 million player option, rumors of a potential trade emerged. Now those rumors are dead, with the Los Angeles Lakers seemingly locked into a core featuring Luka Doncic and LeBron.
While a LeBron trade is apparently not on the table right now, that doesn’t mean the Lakers can’t revisit the idea after the season tips off. After all, if for some reason the Lakers get off to a slow start, it’s not hard to envision the 40-year-old wanting to capitalize on one of his final seasons with another contender.
Recently, The Ringer’s Zach Lowe appeared on The Bill Simmons Podcast and suggested a LeBron trade to the Miami Heat that could work out well for both sides. Though this trade wouldn’t materialize until after the season tips off, he suggested closer to January.
“LeBron’s on the Lakers. I’ve heard it’s kind of gotten quiet now after it was the talk of Summer League. There doesn’t seem to be like a clean solution either way. Everyone’s saying we should expect them to be on the Lakers. That’s my expectation. But I agree with you. Like on paper there’s a Heat trade that is not crazy for either team. Andrew Wiggins and Norman Powell for unhappy LeBron in January and maybe some sort of pick swap and maybe that’s all it is as crazy as that sounds. I think for the Lakers Kel’el Ware has got to be in it.”
Zach Lowe on LeBron to Heat
The Heat just acquired Powell this offseason. While they clearly sought out Powell in part for his shooting ability, the chance to add LeBron doesn’t come around often. In other words, if he were open to a trade, someone like Wiggins and Powell likely wouldn’t be off the table. As for Ware? It may depend on how he performs in the upcoming season.
Either way, it’s clear that these LeBron trade rumors won’t ever truly be dead.
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