In NBA history, LeBron James is one of the brightest superstars of the 21st century, however, the Los Angeles Lakers seem to be in a difficult predicament. Ranked ninth in the Western Conference, the Lakers have a moment to think about the future. This raises questions about whether trading LeBron James should be considered.James' agent, Paul, told ESPN last week that James won't be traded before Thursday's trade deadline, and the way the Lakers operate makes that decision seem a foregone conclusion. Paul has a significant presence in the Lakers organization, representing James and Anthony Davis. If James, who has been a symbol of the team since joining Los Angeles in 2018, doesn't want to be traded, then he's likely not leaving.
However, there is a reality that the Lakers brass need to face up: the end of the LeBron era may come sooner than they think.
The victories of the past few days have added to the Lakers' glory, but they have also been accompanied by news that Vanderbilt will be out for the season due to a foot injury. The Lakers are still stuck in a tight competition in the Western Conference and are in ninth place, meaning they will lose one of their best defensive players for the remainder of the game.
Lakers head coach Darvin Ham said: "We're trying to get to the level of basketball we envisioned, and we know we're capable of doing that. However, the magic of the Lakers in the second half of the past season seems to have faded, and now the Lakers are an average team with mid-range shooting percentage (15th from three-point range), poor scoring ability (21st) and average defense.
It's not a problem for Lakers head coach Darvin Ham, and firing him isn't the answer, as finding a suitable replacement won't be easy. The solution is also not a transaction, as there may not be a viable transaction at the moment. What the Lakers' top brass may need to consider is: Is it time to end the James era and usher in a new chapter?
Pelinka made the right decision last summer, but it didn't turn out well. The Lakers, who had a 16-7 record in the second half of last season, have struggled this season. The future of the Lakers seems uncertain, and even under James and Davis, they are still in a position to qualify through the play-in tournament.
The problems facing the Lakers are not to be ignored, but the solutions are not easy to see. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reminded Lakers fans to lower their expectations ahead of this week's trade deadline, as there may not be an ideal trade that fits the Lakers' needs.
James' performances this season have also been in the spotlight, with his points per game average dropping to 24Nine points, the lowest since his rookie season. While the Lakers have had some wins in recent games, that doesn't seem to mask the team's problems.
James' contract situation is also a big change, and he has an option of $51.4 million next year. Despite his penchant for the Southern California way of life, what he wants more is to keep winning. James is about to turn 40 and at this point in time may consider leaving Los Angeles to pursue a better championship chance, especially with his eldest son, Bronny, likely to leave college in a year's time.
James' trade could be a game, but it's not impossible. Both the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks have enough capital to make such a trade. Regardless, James will almost certainly appear in a Lakers jersey for Thursday's game. Even if the season doesn't go well, the Lakers can envision a crisis for the team next summer, when they will have as many as three first-round picks.
While this season wasn't a championship or a downfall for the Lakers, the end of the LeBron era became more and more palatable. The Lakers need to be ready for this new chapter. At this crossroads, they will determine the future direction of the Lakers.