The future of LeBron James was thrown into doubt after his lukewarm commitment to the LA Lakers.
LeBron James decided to opt-in to his LA Lakers contract, while issuing a warning. The superstar wants the Lakers to be competitive this season and build around him, instead of plotting for the future with Luka Doncic.
This power-play puts the Lakers under pressure, and ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne believes it has backfired on the team in free agency, amid the uncertainty it has created.
The Lakers have now signed Deandre Ayton, but whether this is enough to appease LeBron James, this summer, or to convince him to extend beyond this season, remains to be seen.
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty ImagesBill Simmons proposes LA Clippers trade
LeBron James’ situation has led to a wave of speculation. Could he be traded to former team the Cleveland Cavaliers?
What about a trade where he would reunite with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving on the Dallas Mavericks?
Or could he team up with long-term rival and Team USA teammate Stephen Curry on the Golden State Warriors?
NBA expert Bill Simmons has a very different proposal, suggesting a rare cross-city trade between the LA Lakers and the LA Clippers, involving Kawhi Leonard.
Speaking on his podcast, Simmons said: “What about Kawhi for LeBron?
“They both get to stay in LA, little change of scenery for each. If you are the Lakers, you get out of this weird LeBron situation.
“I don’t know if it changes your destiny that much but at least it resets whose team it is.”
The last time the LA Lakers and LA Clippers traded
The two LA rivals do not often make trades together, which makes this proposal unlikely.
The last time they were involved in the same transaction was in 2023, as part of a four-team deal involving the Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets.
Simmons admits he is unsure if the Lakers would ultimately make the move he proposed, adding: “I think the Lakers would say no, but I thought it was an interesting one.”
On the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard was a revived player in the second half of the 2024-25 season, and he has been training hard already to prepare to reload for 2025-26.