The NBA is a player-driven league, and if someone with the stardom LeBron James boasts wants to go to a different team, then they can make it to happen.
But it sounds like James is content in Los Angeles.
The Lakers were an abject disaster this season. The James-Anthony Davis-Russell Westbrook trio seldom played together because of injuries, but even when they did the fit was incongruous. Now with little roster flexibility and basically no market for Westbrook, the Lakers are in a pinch – one that might not be resolved by the time next season starts.
So, the stars theoretically are aligned for James, who is signed through next season, to demand a trade. But during an appearance Monday on the “Rich Eisen Show”, ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst poked holes in that idea.
"LeBron obviously misses it (being in the playoffs), obviously is very disappointed in the season, but loves his life and love living in Los Angeles and loves being a Laker," Windhorst said. "I think he wants to make the most of it. They believe that with a couple of tweaks they can be right back on top -- if the team is healthy and AD is healthy and they change the point guard position whether that's replacing Westbrook or getting another player in there so that Westbrook doesn't' have to do it as much -- they think they can be right back on top. I don't necessarily agree with that, but LeBron is still one of the great players in the league.
"With four titles and all these MVPs and gold medals and all of his records and he's going to be the all-time leading scorer next year, I think he values going home at the end of the games and being happy. And he is, even with these losses in Los Angeles, he is happy. I don't think he wants to go anywhere, and I don't think he will go anywhere in the short-term."
If James does genuinely like living in Los Angeles, then it is plausible that he might want to just stay and hope for the best next season. He’s accomplished plenty in his career, and he’ll be able to choose his next destination in 2023.
Perhaps staying put, even with the Lakers’ flaws, is the most palatable path for the 37-year-old.
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