Bottom line if I'm LA I'm moving Lebron and Westbrook as a package deal this year. Assuming they even have the power to do that. I don't want to sign either of them after the 22-23 season so why not get something for them now?
Lebron is still one of the best players in the NBA but he's breaking down. It isn't going to get any better. If he can go somewhere where he can play 45-50 games and be healthy for the playoffs he's got a chance for another ring. The odds of the Lakers being in the playoffs healthy without Lebron playing 75 games is almost NIL. AD would have to play more than 60 and everyone knows that isn't happening.
If they just have to wait for their contracts to expire then fine. I'm not that invested in the NBA so another year of missing the playoffs or losing 1st round isn't that big of a deal.
I became a Lakers fan when they had Eddie Jones, Nick VanExel, etc. I'd rather watch a fun team that does ok than a boring team that does better. Get some exciting young players that are fun to watch.
Trading Lebron would only happen if he wanted it (asked for it, probably in private but it would get leaked). And to the team he wanted. Lakers would take back a sub-par package since their leverage would be low. I do understand the idea of trading Lebron and Westbrook (and then AD likely gone too) though. Try to salvage as much as possible for their current value (current value for Westbrook is negative at his salary).
I know someone in NBA circles who is very close with Lakers people. This guy gets info before it hits other places. He says Lebron is likely going 1+1 (second year player option) for the remainder of his career no matter where he is playing. He wants power and flexibility. Lakers would like him to sign on for 2 or 3 more years, but that is not likely.
Lebron does want to stay in LA and as a Laker. But if things get bad enough he could bolt. Where his son Bronny ends up could be where he ends his career, but Lebron and Bronny will be able to finesse where he ends up playing in the NBA. Bronny is decent, but likely not a high first round type of guy. Not nearly as big as his father, likely won't be. So a smaller SG in the NBA. But teams will give the red carpet for him in hopes of getting his dad.
I became a Lakers fan when Magic was drafted. Now, I really wasn't old enough to know much or follow the NBA in depth back then, but that is where I started following the team. Even the 90's teams that didn't win much were fun to watch. Nick, Eddie, etc. Of course then Shaq and Kobe cemented everything. I actually enjoy watching the NBA more than any other sport (sans Husker football, but that has sucked ass for so many years running it isn't any "fun" being a Husker). The Lakers had some terrible years post Kobe achilles tear, but Lebron had been lining up going to LAL for a couple years before he joined, something I was aware of. He has lifted the franchise a ton, and they want to ride that wave as long as possible. They really fucked up in bleeding away at the margins of their future draft picks and not signing beneficial contracts for young players with value (THT is an example - 2 year contract at 10 mil a year, should have locked him up for 4 years as now teams that want him are willing to wait until he hits free agency next summer). Lakers front office is terrible, and that also has Lebron thinking about greener pastures.
But for now, they have Lebron, AD and Westbrook (who may be moved yet for Kyrie or if not Kyrie, several other decent players). They have a foundation and hope they can right the ship, and a hope their new head coach makes a big difference. They don't want to give Klutch (Rich Paul, Lebrons business partner, owns Klutch) too much power and this is pissing off both Klutch and Lebron, so that relationship is strained. Which is why they think Lebron is probably gone in a year or two, and why they don't want to give up more than 1 future 1st round draft pick to get out of Westbrook. They'd rather take their chances that Ham can make it work with what they have, or a good enough deal appears for Westbrook to improve to contender status. I think the chances it works out where they are contenders is not looking good right now though. Lots of time left before the season, so Westbrook could yet be moved and there could be more roster additions, albeit lower level addtiions like a Markeiff Morris type of guy (he was pretty good in the bubble bling season for them). As with the Huskers, we will just have to wait to see how what looks like a sinking ship situations plays out.
