The Los Angeles Lakers need to get younger around Luka Doncic and could also use an extra hit of front-court talent, even after inking free agent center Deandre Ayton to a two-year deal.
LeBron James is apparently considering his options beyond L.A. after opting into his $52.6 million contract in 2025-26 before immediately sending the Lakers a strong message/quasi-threat about “monitoring” their offseason moves in the context of valuing championship contention in the twilight of his career.
Wosney Lambre of The Ringer called James out on the Wednesday, July 2, edition of “The Zach Lowe Show” before offering a trade pitch that could satisfy James’ desire to contend, the Lakers’ desire to put a star big man alongside Doncic and the New York Knicks‘ desire to make a push for the NBA Finals in an injury-weakened Eastern Conference, while also getting off some of the massive money they’ve committed to their roster over the next several years.
“Have some self-awareness about what you are able to do. You got outplayed by Julius Randle in the playoffs last year. … Julius Randle cooked yo a** in a playoff series,” Wombre said of James. “There’s a certain level of passing the buck here that I don’t really wanna hear from LeBron.”
“Trade LeBron for KAT [Karl-Anthony Towns], straight up. [They have] like salaries, they play the same position functionally,” Wombre continued. “I’d love to roll with that.”
Karl-Anthony Towns Immensely Talented, Expensive
GettyKarl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks.
Lowe immediately took to Wombre’s trade suggestion, noting that it solves the Knicks’ side of the equation as well.
“Now that’s fun, because I was putting together these other trades with KAT still being there, because partly I’m like, ‘Is Mitchell Robinson ever going to be dependable to be on the court to be my center?’” Lowe said. “I mentioned financial relief being one of the sneaky reasons the Knicks might do it. KAT, as I mentioned before, sneakily up for a contract extension … and that extension is going to be after, or based on, a player option for $61 million in 2028. That situation is one to monitor.”
Towns, 28, is playing on a $220.4 million deal that runs through the next three seasons. A former Rookie of the Year, he earned third-team All-NBA honors last season for the third time in his 10-year career. He is also a five-time All-Star.
LeBron James’ Title Chances Increase in Eastern Conference
GettyLeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Wombre also noted that while no one should take issue with James opting in and getting more money from the Lakers than any other team was likely to offer him in free agency, his decision to do so and then claim that winning matters more than anything else strains credulity.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship. He knows the Lakers are building for the future, he understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all,” James’ agent Rich Paul told Shams Charania of ESPN on June 29. “He wants to make every season he has left count.”
The Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics, the last two Eastern Conference champions, lost Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum, respectively, to Achilles injuries during this summer’s postseason. Both will likely miss the entirety of next year.
The Milwaukee Bucks also waived injured point guard Damian Lillard, weakening the 2021 champions’ chance to win it all come the 2026 playoffs. If James can force his way to the East next season, his chances of capturing a fifth title in what will be his 23rd professional season should increase exponentially.
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