NBA Executive: Even if the Lakers trade LeBron James, they would only negotiate with two or three teams like the Cavaliers or Warriors

On January 25th Beijing time, American media Heavy interviewed an NBA executive who believes there is a certain possibility of a LeBron James trade.

Throughout his 23 seasons in the league, he has rarely been the focus of trade rumors. The Lakers have undergone significant internal unrest in the past week. ESPN published a blockbuster report exposing the final days of the Buss family's leadership, which pointed out the mutual discontent between LeBron and the team's management. However, it is important to clarify: this report only reflects the symptoms of internal conflict within the Lakers, not the root cause.

When LeBron joined the Lakers in 2018, he originally planned to finish his career in Los Angeles and build his own entertainment business empire there. But that plan may now be changing — though not because of the ESPN report itself, but due to the deep-seated grievances detailed within it. Rumors about LeBron possibly leaving the team have been intensifying recently.

This raises a question: If the Lakers intend to part ways with LeBron James, is now the best time to do so?

“If this were any other team, now would definitely be the perfect time to trade him, but this is the Lakers and the player is LeBron, so everything becomes unusual,” said an NBA executive. “Even if the Lakers want to trade LeBron, they would only negotiate with two or three teams — the Cleveland Cavaliers being one, and perhaps the Golden State Warriors as another. So until the trade actually happens, no one can be certain of the outcome. This possibility cannot be ruled out.”

American media Yahoo Sports also discussed the topic of trading LeBron James, specifically mentioning his hometown team, the Cavaliers —

“Securing a deal to bring LeBron back before the trade deadline is quite challenging. Currently, the Cavaliers are above the luxury tax apron, meaning any trade must comply with equal salary matching rules and cannot involve multiple contracts bundled together. Even if the Cavaliers trade away their highest-paid player (Mitchell, whose salary is comparable to Mobley’s), it remains difficult to match LeBron’s massive $52.6 million annual salary. The Cavaliers must first reduce their total payroll below the luxury tax apron, which means cutting roughly $22 million in salary space.”

“In any trade involving LeBron, De’Andre Hunter is considered the most valuable trade asset, and trading him is the best way for the Cavaliers to reduce salary and get below the luxury tax apron. Therefore, if the Cavaliers want to acquire LeBron, they must first trade Hunter. By any means necessary, once the Cavaliers successfully cut this $22 million in salary, they will be eligible to trade for LeBron. After the deal, the Cavaliers’ payroll will likely exceed the luxury tax apron again, but compared to Hunter or even the impressive sophomore forward Jalen Duren, LeBron’s arrival would significantly boost the team’s strength.”

If the Cavaliers can overcome all obstacles and complete this trade, LeBron, who remains in excellent form at 41, will undoubtedly turn the Cavaliers into serious championship contenders. The Cavaliers need to avoid trading away key players like Duren, Mobley, and Jarrett Allen in the process. If they succeed, the entire league will have to take notice of this revitalized Cavaliers team.