The Los Angeles Lakers have one of the best offensive duos in the NBA, and that is without four-time MVP LeBron James on the active roster.
James has missed the first six contests of the 2025-26 campaign and is likely to remain sidelined for multiple weeks into the future due to complications from sciatica. But L.A. (4-2) has looked dangerous, with both Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves dominating at various times early in the year.
Los Angeles is building toward a post-James future already, as the legendary hooper will turn 41 years old in December and is playing on the final year of his contract. That deal does have a no-trade clause built into it, which means James would have to sign off on any move.
But if the Lakers can play competitively without one of the greatest players in league history, it might behoove them to try and deal him ahead of the NBA’s early February trade deadline for younger roster pieces and/or draft assets.
That was the thinking behind an article Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report published on October 23, in which he named James as the No. 1 trade target of the San Antonio Spurs heading into the regular season.
LeBron James Would Likely Waive No-Trade Clause to Play Alongside Spurs Star Victor Wembanyama
GettyVictor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs.
James has been mum about his plans beyond this year, which could include re-signing with the Lakers, joining another contender elsewhere or even retirement.
He is in complete control of his future, at least for now, but may be willing to waive his no-trade clause to join an up-and-coming Spurs team that is 5-0 to start the year behind the ridiculous play of MVP candidate Victor Wembanyama.
Wembanyama is ready to win now, and the Spurs should be doing everything in their power to help him do so. This includes sniffing around a LeBron James trade, a player who’s long had a great relationship with Gregg Popovich.
There’s no shortage of advantages when it comes to pairing James and Wembanyama, whether it be on-court production, practice habits, strength training or learning the opponent’s every move. A core of Wembanyama, James, De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper and others could make a deep playoff run this year.
Wembanyama is averaging 30.2 points, 14.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, a league-leading 4.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game.
Keldon Johnson Sensible Centerpiece of Hypothetical LeBron James Trade Between Lakers, Spurs
GettyKeldon Johnson (left) and former head coach Gregg Popovich (right) of the San Antonio Spurs.
Given James’ age, current injury status, salary and uncertain future, the Spurs are not likely to even consider handing over a player of note in any deal. That obviously means Wembanyama, Fox, Harper and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle are off the table.
But someone like 26-year-old small forward Keldon Johnson, who has played approximately 24 minutes per night over last season and the first five games of this year, could make sense as the centerpiece of any deal for James.
Johnson is a six-foot, five-inch wing who plays high quality defense and shoots the 3-pointer at a 35.3 percent clip on 4.4 attempts per game. His skill set offensively would allow him to fit alongside Doncic and/0r Reaves, while also providing needed perimeter defense for the Lakers in such lineups.
Johnson is only under contract through the 2026-27 campaign at annual salary cap hits of $17.5 million, so his money isn’t much of a burden, and Los Angeles wouldn’t need to do any hard work to move on from him ahead of the potentially booming free-agent class of the summer of 2027.
The main complication in a trade swapping James for Johnson is where the Spurs would find the rest of the player salary necessary to get close enough to James’ $52.6 million figure so that the deal would fit into current NBA rules.
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