NBA experts agree on a trade destination for LeBron James as he grows frustrated with the LA Lakers.
Trade talks have quietened in the short term for James, who is expected to be a Laker when the season starts. But the trade deadline is in February, and if the Lakers are not clear contenders by then, James could become more persistent in his trade pursuit.
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James, who is prioritising winning his fifth NBA title while growing increasingly frustrated at his team’s lack of urgency, will want to contend wherever he goes. These experts think he can contend at one of his former teams.
Bill Simmons and Zach Lowe agree that LeBron James could be traded from the LA Lakers to the Miami Heat
Bill Simmons, speaking to Zach Lowe on The Bill Simmons Podcast, said that he sees James’ former team, the Miami Heat, as a potential trade destination for James by the deadline.
Miami fell out of title contention when Jimmy Butler forced his way to the Golden State Warriors last season, but they have a host of trade assets on expiring deals, which would allow the Lakers to free cap space for the upcoming offseason.
Simmons said, “They have a flexible roster for trades. [Norman] Powell is on an expiring, [Simone] Fontecchio is on an expiring, [Haywood] Highsmith is on an expiring, [Andrew] Wiggins has a player option next year for $30 million. It feels a little ‘LeBronny’
“If somebody came from a time machine and said, ‘In January or February, LeBron will be traded,’ and you had to pick a team, I think Miami would be one of the teams I would think about.”
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer won two championships in Miami in the early 2010s. But his departure from South Beach wasn’t a peaceful one.
Heat executive Pat Riley expressed his frustration at James publicly for leaving abruptly, while James wasn’t happy with his lack of a say in the decision-making process, and the Heat’s unwillingness to overspend.
However, it was a messy breakup when James left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time. He was accused of quitting on the team and was called a coward by Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert in the famous “Comic Sans Letter”. So Simmons thinks that any tension between James and the Heat is water under the bridge.
He continued, “It ended awfully for him in Miami. I don’t think it matters. He went back to Cleveland after the Comic Sans letter. If it’s the right move for both sides, and if Miami can look at it and go, ‘Holy s–t, we can win the East if we turn Wiggins and whatever else into LeBron.”
Potential LeBron James trade package for the Miami Heat
In response, Lowe said he agrees that James could be traded to the Heat.
He said, “There’s actually kind of a Heat reunion trade that isn’t crazy on paper for either team if it ever came to that. I agree with you. It wouldn’t be a terrible Eastern Conference team.”
Lowe said that a potential trade would have to include one key player: Seven-footer Kel’el Ware.
He explained, “I think for the Lakers, Ware would have to be in it. I’ve gone out of my way to say I’ve got to get a rim runner to pair with Luka. I’m trading arguably the greatest player of all time, and I’ve got to hit the trade well, so he’s the piece I think they would try to get.”
LA Lakers receiveMiami Heat receiveAndrew WigginsLeBron JamesNorman PowellBronny JamesKel’el Ware2026 First Round pick (Miami’s choice)
The Heat have plenty of pieces they would be willing to offboard in return for James. A combination of Wiggins, Ware and Powell, including pick swaps, should be enough to encourage the Lakers to let go of James.
James, before retirement, could make one last run at the title with Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo, and the Lakers could free up space to attack free agency in 2027.