4 Teams That Should Trade For LeBron James

It feels silly to speculate about a team trading away LeBron James but there was a tweet this week that made a LeBron trade seem like a real possibility.

Hearing from @nba peeps @KingJames is the top of the @Lakers list to trade the 39 year old. Pelinka is looking for the right team to dance with and is close to a suitor Lbj and AD both out tonight. @KTLA @KTLA5SPORTS #nba #Lakers

— David pingalore (@DavidPingalore) February 1, 2024

No one knows who David Pingalore is but this isn’t the first time he’s predicted some big LeBron moves. He knew LeBron was going back to Cleveland. He knew LeBron was going to the Lakers. He even knew Kawhi Leonard was signing with the Clippers back when NO ONE was able to infiltrate Kawhi’s camp¹.

The Los Angeles Lakers are 25-25. There’s enough talent on the roster to sneak into the play-in tournament but there’s no part of me that believes the Lakers can beat any of the top teams in the West.

When their season ends—which will be long before the NBA Finals—LeBron will have a decision to make. He has a player option and has made it clear he wants to play with his son. It’s possible he looks around at Rui Hachimura and Taureen Prince and decides to opt out and hit free agency one last time to play for a final championship with his son getting a nepo-hire as the 12th man.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility for the Lakers to decide to reset the clock and get some assets in a LeBron James trade instead of trying to continue building around a 40-year-old who is leading the 20th-ranked offense in the NBA and stand still on defense to catch his breath.

Here are 4 teams that should be calling the Lakers right now for a LeBron James trade:

1. Philadelphia 76ers

The biggest problem with the Joel Embiid-era 76ers is their lack of leadership and inability to perform in the playoffs when the games matter most. Outside of Kawhi Leonard, there is no one in the NBA better and more consistent at playoff basketball than LeBron James.

I haven’t been shy about my distaste for Tobias Harris. I can’t even say I hate watching him play because he could be on the court for the full 48 minutes and I wouldn’t even notice. Tobias Harris shows up to work and does the bare minimum before heading back into the locker room after the game, checking his phone and seeing that direct deposit hit his bank account. All time NBA scammer.

LeBron is an adult who can steady this team and keep them focused. Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James is a hell of a three-o. Oh, I’m inventing the word three-o instead of using trio. I will absolutely be forcing three-o all over this article.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

🎶I’m coming home. I’m coming home. Tell the world, I’m coming home.🎶

This is easily the best haul the Lakers would get. The Cavs went on a run with Darius Garland and Evan Mobley sidelined with injuries. The team proved Donovan Mitchell and Jarrett Allen are enough to win games without Garland and Mobley’s redundant talents.

Los Angeles could end up flipping LeBron for Evan Mobley and creating their own San Antonio Spurs David Robinson/Tim Duncan Twin Towers. Or, ya know, a lesser 2017 New Orleans Pelicans Twin Towers with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. Whatever.

Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland/Evan Mobley and LeBron James. What a three-o.

3. Sacramento Kings

On Wednesday night, the Sacramento Kings flew into Dade County to take on the Miami Heat. Harrison Barnes played 37 minutes and scored 9 points on 13 shot attempts. He was 0-for-6 from 3. The 4th quarter started with the Kings down 84-90. Harrison Barnes checked in at the beginning of the quarter. He immediately missed a 3. I’m going to scream in a second. GET OUT OF MY LIFE HARRISON.

De’Aaron Fox and Domantis Sabonis should be competing for championships but they have a Harrison Barnes-sized anchor around their neck. Replace Barnes with LeBron fucking James and the Kings could march to the Western Conferences Finals this season.

4. New York Knicks

Usually when I make these trade lists, I sneak my favorite teams on. But honestly, I don’t think LeBron deserves to hitch his wagon to this Knicks team that has won 15 of their last 17 games and just put the Indiana Pacers in the torture chamber on Thursday night without Julius Randle or OG Anunoby in the lineup.

Actually, the vibes are too great in New York. I won’t poison the water supply here. Let me sneak a 5th team on here that is far more desperate for a LeBron James trade than the Knicks.

5. Dallas Mavericks

I’ve always wanted to see Luka Doncic play with a real point guard and I like the way he looks next to Kyrie Irving. But now I’m curious what Luka would look like with a big forward like Jaylen Brown or say, LeBron James.

The biggest problem with the Mavericks is their star player is a gigantic baby who cries to the refs all game long about calls and kicks fans out of arenas who make fun of his weight. LeBron James is a 60-year old adult in the room who can keep Luka focused on playing against the other team instead of the referees.

Tim Hardaway Jr isn’t good enough to be the third-best player on a championship team. He is one of the worst clutch players in the NBA but thinks he’s Kobe with the game on the line. That level of mental illness is perfect for Los Angeles.

I’ve also been thinking about this recently but I wouldn’t be shocked if Luka Doncic goes his entire career without winning a championship. James Harden was a perennial MVP favorite and never made a Finals. Dallas trading for LeBron James could Luka’s best chance at sniffing a Finals. And man, can you just picture that Luka//LeBron/Bronny Jr three-o next season??

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