In a crazy turn of events, which actually is not all that shocking considering the recent events, there are rumblings around the Los Angeles Lakers trading LeBron James. Yes, you read that headline correctly. There are legitimate rumblings circling around the NBA landscape that the Los Angeles Lakers could potentially trade LeBron James. We want to preface something before getting into anything else: we undoubtedly do not think this is going to happen. Not only would the Lakers be silly to trade James but it is so inconceivable that the team would actually get the proper return for the superstar. However, because of the dysfunction of the last year, it is a legitimate conversation. There was speculation two months ago that Jeannie Buss “at least had the idea cross her mind” after the Rich Paul, New Orleans Pelicans fiasco. And now, Stephen A. Smith is joining in on the fun, reporting that the Lakers trading James could actually have some steam. I'm told people in Hollywood have told Jeanie Buss to trade @KingJames! pic.twitter.com/PzaOvC3uF0 — Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 9, 2019 LeBron’s first choice would probably be the Los Angeles Clippers so he could stay in Los Angeles. However, he ultimately has no say as he does not have a no-trade clause. Again, we cannot stress enough that we do not think this will happen and that we don’t believe that the team is shopping James unless it actually happens or James comes out himself. But, with the discussion being had, it is good to know what the Lakers should be asking for in return. We are not necessarily saying the team will get these offers, but these are the only two conceivable returns that wouldn’t be a massive net loss.<doc-sep>It’s a troubling time in the land of the Los Angeles Lakers. They thought they found their next head coach in Tyronn Lue only to have talks end Wednesday when contract demands weren’t met. Lue was reportedly OK with the Lakers’ front office picking his staff, but wanted a five-year contract rather than a three-year one that expired in line with that of LeBron James. As one would expect, Twitter had a field day with the news. As one would also expect, so did ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. Smith got deep into it Thursday on “Get Up” and held nothing back — not even his voice, which reached screeching levels by the time his three minutes was over. The trade rumors surrounding LeBron James explained by @stephenasmith the only way he knows how. 😂 pic.twitter.com/x9Ypv4vd3j — Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 9, 2019 Quotes do Smith no justice in this case, but here are the highlights. On what James is thinking: “He’s going to hesitate. He’s going to be reluctant to tell you what he feels. No. 1 because he wants to control the narrative. No. 2 because ‘The Shop,’ the latest edition of [his HBO show] ‘The Shop’ hasn’t taken place. So God forbid he’ll tell the media — he’ll be the media and tell you what he wants to tell you.” The next episode of James show is set to air Friday. On the chance of trading James: “For all of those out there who would debunk such a theory [the Lakers would trade James], who would sit up there and render it utter nonsense I would ask you a very simple yet rhetorical question. Tell me what has make sense about the Lakers over the last several years? Tell me what!” Smith continued with a furious fly-by on the executive dysfunction that includes the Buss family drama and Magic Johnson “quitting” on the team last month. Rambis connections break Smith Story continues The part that broke Smith and sent him high into the octave range: “All of the sudden you’re hearing the name Linda Rambis. I know Kurt Rambis. I didn’t know anything about Linda Rambis other than the fact that she was Jeanie’s [Buss] best friend two weeks ago. And now you have her influencing basketball decisions. You can’t make this up. You can’t make it up!” Kurt Rambis is a former Lakers player and coach who currently serves as a senior adviser. His wife, Linda, is listed as an executive director of special projects. She is a trusted confident and adviser to team owner Jeanie Buss and has been characterized in recent weeks as a “shadow owner” for her shy best friend, per ESPN reports. The Rambis couple has had a significant role in the process of hiring a new coach, sources told Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, and overruled the Buss family’s decision to hire Lue, per reports. So, yeah, Stephen A. Smith has a point. The Lakers interviewed Monty Williams before he agreed to become the Phoenix Suns next head coach. They’re now looking at Lionel Hollins, Frank Vogel and Mike Woodson as candidates to become their coach. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith has had it with the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images) More from Yahoo Sports:<doc-sep>Could the Philadelphia 76ers be a destination for one of the best players in NBA history if he becomes unhappy with the franchise he currently plays for? In the past, I wrote about how LeBron James should regret his decision in choosing the Los Angeles Lakers over the Philadelphia 76ers last summer in light over Magic Johnson stepping down from his role with the Lakers. The Lakers have blundered a prime opportunity to make James very happy and it should bring questions about his future. After Sixers assistant Monty Williams had accepted the head coaching job with the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers had gone into contract negotiations with James’ former coach Tyronn Lue. Lue had a championship on his resume as James’s coach and won a title with the Lakers back when he was a player. Yet the Lakers low balled him on the length of the contract they offered him and tried to dictate who would be on his coaching staff. Those two stipulations from the Lakers ended contract negotiations between Lue and Los Angeles. The Lakers are still in search of a new head coach, but that shouldn’t be their biggest concern. Los Angeles didn’t hire a coach who James obviously preferred. This isn’t a positive move in building a strong relationship with James after the departure of Johnson. To put it simply, the Lakers have failed James up to this point. They didn’t make the playoffs, they failed to get him legit help, the front office executive that recruited James to L.A. is now gone and when they could have hired a coach that has had a positive history with him, they failed to close the deal. If James cares about the last few years of his basketball career, it should be clear that the Lakers aren’t the team for him. He doesn’t have a no-trade-clause in his contract and if winning a championship is his main priority, then he should consider making a request to be traded as Jalen Rose of ESPN has suggested James should do. That’s where the 76ers come in. Besides the Lakers, the Sixers were the only team to get any type of significant interest from James during last year’s free agency. Philly is set to face the Toronto Raptors in a game seven in their second round matchup. The 76ers have a great young core of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, both of which were All-Stars this past season. They also have some free agents in Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris who they can re-sign over the salary cap limit. Keeping J.J. Redick will be a high priority of the Sixers front office as well. Even if Philly loses game seven to the Raptors, they are still an attractive destination for any player. If James were to ask to be traded, it wouldn’t be crazy to believe that the Sixers would be at the top of his preferred destinations list. If that were the case, trading for James wouldn’t be an easy task for general manager Elton Brand. The Lakers would ask for one of the Sixers young core players (such as Embiid or Simmons) and draft picks. One thing to remember is that James is still in the last stage of his career, so the price to acquire him wouldn’t break the 76ers bank. Below is an ideal trade on the 76ers end to get James. 76ers Get SF, LeBron James Lakers Get PF, Tobias Harris SG, Zhaire Smith 2023 first round pick 2020 second round pick 2021 second round pick Including Harris in this hypothetical deal would mean that the 76ers would have to do a sign-and-trade during free agency this summer. Harris has shown All-Star talent when he was the leader of the young Los Angeles Clippers. Zhaire Smith is a young prospect with high potential that the Lakers can develop with the rest of their young core. Due to James’ age and NBA mileage, only giving up one first and two second round picks is fair compensation with the aged superstar. As stated before the hypothetical trade was proposed, this would be an ideal package for the Sixers and not the Lakers. However, with the inexperience and dysfunction of the Lakers front office, Brand might be able to pull off a similar trade. Brand should only trade for James if he can acquire him without having to deal Simmons or Embiid. The Sixers shouldn’t mortgage the future to get James in Philly. James has some decisions to make about his future with the Lakers. If he decides that he wants to get traded, then the Philadelphia 76ers could have an opportunity to acquire one of the All-Time greats in NBA history.<doc-sep>
When LeBron James signed with the Los Angeles Lakers last year, it was considered more of a business decision than a basketball one. The young core in Los Angeles was still not ready for prime time, and LeBron was expected to carry the roster to glory much like he did in Cleveland. But, it simply hasn’t worked out. (RELATED: Here’s How Fans Welcomed LeBron James In Return To Cleveland) It’s time for LeBron to demand a trade, and ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith suggested that people close to Lakers Owner Jeanie Buss have been “imploring” her to trade him. I’m told people in Hollywood have told Jeanie Buss to trade @KingJames! pic.twitter.com/PzaOvC3uF0 — Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 9, 2019 After the Lakers botched their chance to hire Ty Lue as their next head coach, it’s clear that the organization lacks direction. (RELATED: Los Angeles Lakers Fans Plan To Protest Outside The Stadium) LeBron is the greatest player in NBA history, and it would be terrible for the league and its fans if he spends the last few years of his prime in obscurity. He has to get away from Los Angeles as soon as possible. So, where would the King go? Could he go back to Cleveland? The Cavs would certainly have some good trade chips. Cleveland has point guard Collin Sexton, who is coming off a fantastic rookie season. They also may well have the number one overall pick and a chance at Duke phenom Zion Williamson. The combination of Sexton and Zion would be hard for the Lakers to pass up. Another team that makes sense would be the Philadelphia 76ers. They could offer a package centered around Ben Simmons that would also be hard for Los Angeles to reject. Regardless of where LeBron ends up, it should be far away from the dysfunctional franchise he’s with now. For the sake of the fans, the quality of the game and your legacy, please LeBron: Demand a trade, and do it now. Follow William Davis on Twitter