The Los Angeles Lakers continue to be linked with trade targets after a dismal start to the season with the team having the joint-worst record in the NBA. The Lakers have won 2 games and lost 9 in their opening 11 games, and continue to shoot the ball from deep as poorly as any other team in the league whilst not having enough talent around the superstar players.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis remain playing at an elite level, although Davis has dropped off from the player we saw in 2020 as he helped the team to win a title. And whilst Russell Westbrook has made marginal improvements coming off the bench as the new sixth man, he's one of the highest paid players in the league playing way below his contract.
At the age of 37, it will be extremely tough to see James sustain this level of greatness. Whilst he's still one of the best players in the league, it's fair to say that his play has marginally declined from what have been used to from him throughout the past 15 years.
Many would agree that he's still more than good enough to be the best player on a championship-winning team, but he needs the requisite pieces around him do so. That does not look like it will happen in Los Angeles any time soon.
This may see James look to jump ship, with a potential trade to send him to a championship-calibre side potentially being the best move for both parties - giving the Lakers a chance to rebuild their roster.
However, James will not be traded until next summer, with his current contract meaning he's unable to be moved. And at the age of 37, he will not want to waste year fighting for 12th or 13th place.
Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes has suggested that James would like to see the Lakers make moves to improve their roster this season, however, this would greatly impact the Lakers ability to make roster improvement downs the line, after trading away multiple draft picks to acquire Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019.
Haynes explained that due to the Lakers only having two draft picks - in 2027 and 2029 - in the first round, they don't have a great deal of assets when it comes to making trades.
He also claimed that James doesn't want to waste a year of his career at his age waiting around to see if they can develop young players or waiting around to see if they get lucky in the draft. Instead, James is apparently eager for the team to make some moves to improve the squad now.
