The Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason has reached peak chaos with the news that Ty Lue wouldn’t be head coach. Fans are planning to protest, and you have to wonder if this summer of free agency is going to be a rough one for the purple and gold. As if LeBron James didn’t have enough challenges to deal with in La La Land, there’s also this little nugget that made it’s way around the Interwebs on Thursday. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was told “nothing is out of bounds” with the Lakers and that people were telling L.A. owner Jeanie Buss to trade James. I'm told people in Hollywood have told Jeanie Buss to trade @KingJames! pic.twitter.com/PzaOvC3uF0 — Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 9, 2019 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 Wha!? Seriously!? Can you imagine! ? It turns out some people can. As usual, when there’s any discussion or rumor of a trade possibility, NBA fans flock to ESPN’s Trade Machine to make a deal happen. And, as usual, we collected them. Check out some of these absurd deals: 1. LeBron to the Blazers So IF the Lakers do actually explore a LeBron trade, their biggest holes are SG and C. And they don’t want to start from square one again. Hey, @BillSimmons what does the Picasso of the Trade Machine think about this one? pic.twitter.com/irANfRvgXe — Just Fred (@fredtastical) May 9, 2019 The Lakers probably say “no” to most of these, but this isn’t the worst. 2. The Rockets get the move that FINALLY pushes them over the top @Lakers we’ll throw in our post-championship window 2022 and 2023 firsts WHO SAYS NO??? pic.twitter.com/gIkn1TFEdn — Official James Harden Stan Account (@ToysRUsGiraffe) May 9, 2019 3. “I’m coming home AGAIN” I mean… if the ESPN trade machine says it’s a successful trade, it’s bound to happen, right? pic.twitter.com/DTkncTBAqu — Derek (@Underdog017) May 9, 2019 LOL. 4. Boston Bron LeBron for Tatum-Hayward and 2 or 3 first rounders? Who says no? Let's Cersi Lannister this whole damn league! #Celtics #Lakers https://t.co/gdALj8QBpZ pic.twitter.com/nK0NyWX1fi — Ryan Leach (@Leach24) May 9, 2019 This is a decent starting point. 5. Taking his talents BACK to South Beach Um, no thanks. 6. Taking his talents BACK to South Beach, Part II 7. Bring him to Anthony Davis and not the other way around Lakers should trade LeBron to New Orleans! pic.twitter.com/6O9UOSOItZ — IllBay58 (@Iam6Will9) May 9, 2019 This would be hilarious after what happened earlier this year. 8. The King plays for The GOAT If Jeanie Buss really wants to show LeBron who is boss and embarrass him, I have the PERFECT trade for her and the Lakers #GreatSuccess pic.twitter.com/oLZzZ9CV1f — Nicholas Wilson (@NickWilsonWFNZ) May 9, 2019 James playing for Michael Jordan would be unreal. 9. James for Steph I played a little on the trade machine IF LeBron is to be traded from LA. Found some options, but not many will give the team a projected increase in Ws. Due to his large contract, most deals would have to involve high end talent. I’m not sure teams would be willing to accept pic.twitter.com/VX3kE3znM0 — Ian Mumm (@FiveOnFiveHoops) May 9, 2019 I’m focused on that first deal in which James joins the Warriors in exchange for … Steph Curry. This would melt social media down in a matter of seconds.<doc-sep>In the midst of six teams being included as the teams that could land LeBron James if he leaves the Los Angeles Lakers was the Chicago Bulls. Getting a haul on the trade market this summer that would include the Los Angeles Lakers superstar forward LeBron James would clearly be crucial for the Chicago Bulls in becoming an immediate title contender in the Eastern Conference. LeBron James is still a huge name in the NBA that sits among the premier talents in the game today. Just because LeBron will be 35-years-old when the 2020 NBA Playoffs arrive doesn’t mean that he couldn’t be extremely effective for a team like the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls also need help with veteran leadership in the locker room. Mainly, there is no one better at commanding a team and distributing the ball around in the NBA now than LeBron. Bringing LeBron into the mix instantly makes the Bulls title contenders, like it should’ve done for the Lakers. LeBron would also have an easier road to getting to the NBA Finals once again with the Bulls in the East than he has with the Lakers out West. That could shuffle this summer with so many big names hitting the free agent market. But, the East appears to be the path of least resistance for LeBron to win a title, like he had with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Funny enough, the Cavs and Bulls are two of the teams that are mentioned among the favorites to land LeBron if he actually hits the trade block this summer. With all the turmoil in Laker Land, the Knicks and Clippers are only +700 to add LeBron James next season while the Cavs and Heat are not far off. The Lakers remain the favorites. pic.twitter.com/ubPolG74W9 — Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 9, 2019 The latest odds for LeBron, if the dysfunction of the Lakers front office really does have an impact on his stability on the West Coast, has him likely going back to the East. The Los Angeles Clippers were also mentioned with the teams that he could start out the 2019-20 regular season with if not the Lakers. The teams out of the East that were included in those odds were the Cavs, Bulls, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, and Indiana Pacers. All of those teams were either rivals of LeBron when he was playing with the Heat or the Cavs in the East or teams he played for or almost played for at one point or another. However, there was at least some level of stability that was brought to the Lakers organization when the confusing and indirect coaching search finally came to an end over the weekend. That could help LeBron was to stick around in Los Angeles a bit longer. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, LeBron James was not influencing the coaching search the Lakers were putting on. The coaching search did wind up with former Pacers and Orlando Magic head coach Frank Vogel as the man to lead LeBron and the Lakers. Could that wind up in LeBron wanting out and coming to a place like the Windy City to join the Chicago Bulls? If we’re being realistic, probably not, but this is still an interesting subject that emerged lately.<doc-sep>Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images The Los Angeles Lakers won the fourth pick of the 2019 NBA draft on Tuesday despite being 11th on the odds ledger heading into the evening. After the revealing, Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka discussed his reaction on a conference call with reporters. "This is a powerful asset for us," Pelinka said. "Our focus right now is going to be on doing all we can to have an incredibly successful year next year." Pelinka also mentioned the team's change in mindset regarding the first-round pick after the significant lottery jump: "But now it shifts, what we can get at four. I will tell you there are some incredibly talented, impact players there that we're going to study deeply. And then of course we'll canvas the league and see what value that pick has. But either of those options is an extraordinary win for the franchise ... I already talked to [Lakers owner Jeanie Buss] and she is just thrilled. I think it should really be exciting for our fans. It's an unexpected event for the Lakers and we're certainly really blessed." Duke forward Zion Williamson figures to be the first pick followed by teammate RJ Barrett and Murray State point guard Ja Morant in either order to round out the top three. That still leaves the Lakers with a host of intriguing options perhaps led by Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver and Virginia's De'Andre Hunter, who currently close out HoopsHype's NBA draft aggregate big board. The question is whether the Lakers try to deal the pick in a package for a star player (perhaps the New Orleans Pelicans' Anthony Davis, who has been connected with L.A. for months) or use it themselves. Video Play Button Videos you might like Pelinka noted that a trade was a possibility despite top-five picks routinely finding success in the Association: "There are young players that come in in the top five of the Draft and have an immediate impact and do great things, even in the playoffs. We're going to have to look really, really hard at the candidates we could select there and see if they can have an immediate impact on winning. There is a precedent around the league where young players have (had success). But again, if we can use (the pick) in a trade that solidifies us in a better way, we'll look at that as well." If the Lakers decide to go the trade route for Davis, then they are bound to have competition with the New York Knicks, who hold the draft's third selection. Ramona Shelburne of ESPN provided more details: The Knicks have the draft leverage over the Lakers, but L.A. can provide a better package of established pro players for Davis. Los Angeles has two second-overall picks in Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball as well as Kyle Kuzma, who was second on the team with 18.7 points per game last year. New York has some talent itself led by young and exciting center Mitchell Robinson and point guard Dennis Smith Jr., but the Lakers have the edge. Ultimately, the draft lottery set the stage for what could be the NBA's most dramatic offseason since 2010, when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh teamed up in Miami. We know where one superstar is headed with Williamson almost assuredly going to New Orleans, but we'll see how the rest falls.<doc-sep>
Kathy Willens/Associated Press Despite the Los Angeles Lakers' struggles, LeBron James does not appear willing to force his way out via trade. "Jalen Rose said the same thing myself and even Max Kellerman said. [Rose said] 'He should ask for a trade,'" ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said on Monday's Get Up. "In other words, we don't know. We don't believe that's what LeBron James will do. Matter of fact, I'm told it's not what he will do. "I'm certainly told...the Lakers will not trade him either, even though there's been people in Hollywood, not basketball people, but people in Hollywood in Jeanie Buss' ear telling her, 'Get rid of him. Trade him. Just rebuild because ya'll ain't going anywhere anyway.' But again, he doesn't have a no-trade clause, so you could conceivably move him. That's not something they're going to do. It's not something he's thinking about doing." James signed a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers last July, embarking on a journey that's been arguably more frustrating than anything he's done in his NBA career. The Lakers (37-45) missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season—James' first missed postseason since 2004-05—while LeBron also had his most extended injury absence of his career after straining his groin on Christmas. The Lakers also had an aborted attempt at an Anthony Davis trade, saw Magic Johnson abruptly resign as president of basketball operations and had both Ty Lue and Monty Williams turn down their head coaching offer (in part because of an organizational desire to have Jason Kidd on the staff). Frank Vogel ultimately agreed to coach the team with that stipulation. Any rumors of James wanting a trade were always a little silly. LeBron himself went on Instagram and responded to rumors that he had lost trust in the Lakers organization last month, calling them "not true at all." Video Play Button Videos you might like The Lakers were not going to trade LeBron James because you do not trade LeBron James. It's as simple as that. These things are not done. LeBron does not have an on-paper no-trade clause, but he has a "I'm LeBron James" no-trade clause. Any team willing to sacrifice the assets necessary to acquire James—a massive haul in terms of young players, draft picks, etc.—would want his assurance that he's willing to stay there. LeBron himself would not want to go to an organization that stripped itself bare of assets to acquire him. He's in the business of winning championships, and the requisite trade package would take any team out of title contention. We saw last season that LeBron himself is not enough to carry a team single-handedly anymore. That would leave the Lakers with the option of trading LeBron James for such a paltry return that they'd be excoriated on social media. There is no world in which LeBron asks for a trade or the Lakers grant such a request. Los Angeles is an organization in disarray with a fanbase that's starting to lose faith. Trading LeBron is not the way to engender faith, and the optics for James requesting a trade from a team that he chose to go to a year ago would be horrible. They're stuck together, for better or worse.