The NBA is ablaze with trade rumors as the league transforms into a high-stakes transfer season. From Draymond Green’s uncertain future to whispers about Jimmy Butler’s potential move from the Miami Heat, every conversation seems to revolve around who might be heading where. Now, courtesy of former NBA player and analyst Kendrick Perkins, a new revelation has stolen the spotlight,
In a recent episode of First Take, Perkins dropped a bombshell that if LeBron James wants to leave the Los Angeles Lakers, the team is ready to honor his request. “Now my sources tell me that if LeBron James at any point comes out and says that he wants to be traded or he wants to entertain it. They’re going to entertain it. No, it ain’t no holding him back,” said Perkins during the segment of the show.
Speculation about LeBron’s next move has gained traction, with some analysts suggesting the Golden State Warriors as a possible landing spot. Such a trade would create an NBA super team, pairing LeBron with Stephen Curry and Jonathan Kuminga. “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,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst to SI.com. Although this scenario is purely hypothetical, the possibility of LeBron donning a Warriors jersey is enough to send shockwaves through the league.
“My sources tell me that if LeBron James at any point comes out and says that he wants to be traded or he wants to entertain it, they’re going to entertain it. It ain’t no holding him back.”
– @KendrickPerkinspic.twitter.com/sJn0XXOLDN
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 10, 2024
The Lakers have struggled to find consistency this season, with a record hovering around 13-11. Despite offseason acquisitions and a renewed focus on defense, the team has faced challenges in closing out games and sustaining momentum. Anthony Davis has been a dominant presence that helped the Lakers to sustain this season.
Despite the Lakers’ struggles, LeBron James continues to defy age and expectations. At 39 years old, he remains one of the league’s premier players, averaging over 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game this season. His recent milestone of surpassing 41,003 career points solidifies his legacy as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
While the notion of a LeBron James trade is still speculative, the implications are enormous. If he were to join a contender like the Warriors, the NBA’s competitive balance would shift dramatically. For now, fans and analysts will keep a close eye on the Lakers and their iconic star as the season unfolds, knowing that the King’s next move could reshape the league once again. However, while the Jordan trade is purely hypothetical, the Lakers are also eyeing a player to join them.
Lakers eyeing new player to help LeBron James and Anthony Davis
The Los Angeles Lakers are amid an underwhelming season, struggling to find consistency despite the superstar duo of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. While their roster has shown flashes of potential, it remains clear that the Lakers need another impactful player to elevate their championship aspirations. Enter Brandon Ingram, the New Orleans Pelicans’ $158 million star, who has reportedly caught the Lakers’ eye in recent trade rumors.
NBA insider Jake Fischer shared on his X account, “Ingram’s first NBA franchise is indeed whispered often by scouts as a potential destination for the next Ingram trade,” Fischer wrote, via ‘The Stein Line.’ “But I haven’t been given any indication that the Lakers are looking to pursue him now. All credible signals circulating about the Lakers suggest that L.A. is looking to fortify its frontcourt and add perimeter defense to assist LeBron James and Anthony Davis,” wrote Fischer.
This season, Ingram has been in stellar form, averaging 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game on 46.5% shooting from the field and 37.4% from three-point range. With such elite production, the Lakers’ pursuit of their former rising star underscores their determination to build a championship-caliber roster before LeBron’s championship window closes.