Lakers GM Rob Pelinka needs to realize that LeBron’s trade value is a rapidly diminishing entity. Dealing James now might be wise, and though LeBron has a no-trade clause, he might not exercise it if he’s dealt to a contender.
Enter the Houston Rockets — one of the only contenders in the NBA with enough first-round draft capital to pull off a deal for LeBron.
To make the money work, Houston could send Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Cam Whitmore to the Lakers for LeBron, Bronny, and Jarred Vanderbilt.
Adams and VanVleet would legitimately fill holes on the Lakers roster and help keep them afloat in the playoff race. There’s no reason a core of VanVleet, Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, Davis, and Adams can’t still be a good NBA basketball team.
The Lakers could basically ask Houston for an ungodly amount of first-rounders (four?), which would completely set them up for the post-LeBron future.
Unless LA thinks they are going to turn things around and a 40-year-old LeBron can will himself through a deep playoff run, this would be a smart trade for the Lakers.
LeBron was for many years someone you absolutely don’t trade under any circumstances, but that’s no longer the case.