The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly not interested in undergoing a rebuild and trading LeBron James and Anthony Davis ahead of February’s deadline.
Lakers Rumors: Cap Situation Complicates A Possible LeBron James, Anthony Davis Trade Without A Third Team Involved
ESPN NBA reporter Brian Windhorst admitted Friday that there have been conversations about a potential change of scenery for James across the league.
“I’m very interested in all of this…I’d be lying if I said that there (hasn’t) been some conversations in the league with LeBron at some point this year, like…revisit that. Because you remember at the trade deadline last year, the Warriors called,” Windhorst said.
4/30
Golden St. Warriors
Record: 13-8
Last 10: 4-6
Seed: 5th pic.twitter.com/PiFmafVCo6— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 6, 2024
However, it’s the same old story, different season. Windhorst also mentioned that Los Angeles’ cap situation would make any trade difficult to navigate without a third team involved. James has a no-trade clause, meaning the Lakers cannot trade him without his approval.
“Twice in the last 10 months, LeBron has had an opportunity to leave the Lakers,” Windhorst said. “Once last year at the trade deadline, when the Warriors called. The Lakers came to LeBron, and he said no, he did not go forward with that. Then in the summer, he was an unrestricted free agent, and he told the Lakers, ‘I will take less money if you can build this roster up.’ They did not build the roster up and he still re-signed. So, I’ve seen LeBron twice have opportunities to leave the Lakers and stay there.”
Are The Warriors Still Interested In James?
During ESPN’s “NBA Today,” Michael Wilbon and Kendrick Perkins discussed the prospect of the Warriors pursuing James again. After watching James and Steph Curry play together in the Olympics, Wilbon said he wants to see the duo back together.
“The Lakers stink, all right? The Lakers are not going to do anything. And the Lakers are not any good,” Wilbon said. “You have [Anthony Davis] and LeBron playing 90% of the games and they are the seventh and eighth seed at best in the West. Is LeBron going to ride out another season like that? Why would he? Why does he need to?”
Per Spotrac, James signed a two-year, $101.36 million max contract with the Lakers in July. His deal includes a 15% trade bonus and a 2025-26 player option worth $52.62 million. And that’s just James.
Davis has an upcoming three-year, $175.36 million max contract, which begins next season. His multi-year deal includes a 2027-28 player option that is valued at $62.78 million.
Even if James gave the Lakers the green light to trade him, how would Golden State make it work? The Warriors’ post transactional trade signings cannot exceed the first apron. Plus, they can trade a maximum of three first-round draft picks in a deal: 2026, 2028, and 2030 (if 1-20).
Golden State’s Trade-Eligible Players
Andrew Wiggins ($26.3 million), Draymond Green ($24.1 million), Gary Payton II ($9.1 million), and Kevon Looney ($8 million) are currently among Golden State’s trade-eligible players.
De’Anthony Melton ($12.8 million), Buddy Hield ($8.8 million), and Kyle Anderson ($8.8 million) will become eligible for trade on Dec. 15. Then there’s Moses Moody, who has a poison pill, meaning his incoming salary counts as $10.8 million, and his outgoing salary is $5.8 million.
Another determining factor in whether or not a trade happens is James’ health status. The four-time MVP turns 40 on Dec. 30. James has yet to miss a game this season, but at his age, what’s to say he doesn’t get injured around the All-Star break? Needless to say, Davis is an injury-prone player as well.
It might be a wiser decision for teams to explore adding younger, more affordable stars.
During Los Angeles’ 134-93 blowout loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday night, James bounced back from a shooting slump to score 29 points on 12-for-18 shooting, including 1-of-4 from 3-point range to break a streak of 20 straight missed 3s.
Over a two-game stretch against the Minnesota Timberwolves and Heat this week, the Lakers were outscored by 70 points — that’s the worst point differential over any two-game span in franchise history.
The Lakers take on the Warriors in the Bay Area on Christmas Day at 8 p.m. ET.
