The Los Angeles Lakers don’t seem overly keen on trading LeBron James this offseason, but they could eventually find that it’s better to get something for him now before he leaves in free agency next offseason. He would likely have far more suitors if he weren’t making over $50 million this season, but he’s still a high-level player.
If James gets traded somewhere, he’s going to want to go somewhere he can contend. While the San Antonio Spurs have been one of the worst teams in the NBA for several seasons now, they are headed in the right direction with Victor Wembanyama already being a true star.
The missing piece for them could be a proven veteran like James. Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report pitched a trade that would send Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, a 2031 first-round pick swap with the Sacramento Kings (that San Antonio acquired in the DeMar DeRozan trade) and a 2032 first-round pick swap for LeBron and Bronny James.
“With the right roster around him as a centerpiece, San Antonio could realistically contend,” Bailey wrote. “And while this move could hamper the team’s depth, replacing two role players with one of the greatest offensive engines of all time would nudge the Spurs closer to the ‘right roster.’
“This is a supercharged (and supersized) version of what San Antonio just did with Chris Paul. LeBron would make Wemby’s life significantly easier on the offensive end, set him up for plenty of wide-open looks and attract more defensive attention than any of his current teammates.”
Why Would Lakers Make This Trade?
Vassell and Johnson are both good, young players, but neither is going to have the kind of impact this season that James would. However, the Lakers might rather start focusing on the future and building around Luka Doncic now.
Bailey explained why it could be a worthwhile trade for the Lakers.
“Devin Vassell, alongside a playmaker as good as Dončić, would instantly become one of the more dynamic catch-and-shoot threats in the NBA,” Bailey wrote. “He’s hit an above-average 37.4 percent of his three-point attempts over the last three seasons, but that number is dragged way down by a high volume of off-the-bounce looks. With Luka, there would be more open triples off the catch.
“Keldon Johnson’s efficiency from the outside would also have a good chance of creeping up, and he brings the added benefit of some potential slashing and playmaking chops (he averaged 2.9 assists in 2022-23).”
James Has No-Trade Clause
One problem the Lakers could face with any potential James trade is that he has a no-trade clause in his contract. That means he has the right to veto any trade that he doesn’t like.
The Spurs might not be the most appealing destination for him. San Antonio isn’t a very glamorous city, and he’d have to be betting that Wembanyama is going to take another leap and stay healthy.
It seems more likely that James would want to go to a more veteran team like the Dallas Mavericks. It’s hard to see a scenario where he’d be eager to go to San Antonio, especially now that Gregg Popovich is no longer coaching.
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