Could LA’s Recent Struggles Lead To Miami Heat And LeBron James Reunion?
Let’s make one thing clear. No matter what direction they want to go with the organization, the Lakers are not trading LeBron James unless he demands a trade.
Likelihood
We rarely see a superstar of LeBron’s level request a trade, and it is always difficult to put together a feasible trade package to acquire such a player. The most recent star of this level to demand a trade was Kevin Durant, who ultimately returned to the Brooklyn Nets.
Still, the one thing we know about LeBron James is that he is a winner and wants to continue to have that identity associated with him. Currently, the Lakers are not winning.
They are several games below .500 and their chances of making the playoffs are becoming increasingly unlikely. LeBron suggested his frustration with the current position of his team in his post-game interview after the, 98-112, loss to the Miami Heat, saying,
"“I’m a winner, and I want to win. And I want to win and give myself a chance to win and still compete for championships. That has always been my passion. That has always been my goal since I entered the league as an 18-year-old kid out of Akron, Ohio.”"
With Anthony Davis constantly sidelined and the Lakers’ lack of consistent shooting, it is unlikely the Lakers are going to win any time soon. The Lakers promised to be caretakers of LeBron’s legacy, but they have not traded their first-round picks to improve the roster this season.
They might be holding out and instead looking toward the future after LeBron James is gone. If LeBron James starts to believe this, his frustration with the team will grow even more.
As of now, it seems very unlikely that LeBron James would request a trade from the Lakers. He loves the city of Los Angeles and the Lakers are one of the most celebrated franchises in the league.
However, if tensions between James and the front office grow, it may lead to one of the biggest trade requests in NBA history. Although the Lakers would have control over where LeBron James ends up in any trade scenario, you have to think that they would, at least, work with James to find a destination that suits his wishes for the end of his career.
Why? Because he’s LeBron James.
He’s one of the greatest NBA players of all time. And he delivered an NBA championship to the Lakers.
If trade negotiations start, the Miami Heat would be one of the most likely teams to acquire James. There are a number of reasons why this is the case.