Nuggets Trade Proposal Lands Lakers’ LeBron James and Bronny James

After Rich Paul’s latest comments, some have suggested that the Los Angeles Lakers could move on from LeBron James. 

However, that’d likely only be due to James potentially asking out. 

While the Lakers have to be careful, given their limited assets, it’s also important to remember who James is as a player. Despite being 40 years old, he wants to win, and while the Luka Doncic situation likely changes things for the Lakers, James isn’t too worried about that. 

He wants them to go all in while he’s on the roster. 

The Trade Idea

When searching for potential teams that could be a fit for the all-time great, arguably the best player to ever lace them up, Bleacher Report recently proposed a trade idea between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets involving James. 

The main piece going back to the Lakers from the Nuggets in the scenario would be Jamal Murray. 

Denver Nuggets Receive: LeBron James, Bronny James

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: DaRon Holmes II, Jamal Murray, Peyton Watson, 2028 first-round pick swap

“LeBron is a basketball sicko. He has to see the value in joining forces with Nikola Jokić. Bronny is also coming with LeBron. So, problem solved! The resulting Nuggets team would be thinner by subbing out two rotation players (Murray and Watson) for one, but it’s miles from untenable following the additions of Bruce Brown and Tim Hardaway Jr. this offseason. Sending out Holmes would only sting if Jonas Valančiūnas really is a flight risk.

“This is another situation in which a team is swapping out youth for LeBron entering his age-41 season. It is also another scenario in which said team might prefer this direction. Murray is set to begin his four-year, $207.8 million extension this coming season, and Watson is extension-eligible now. The Nuggets may welcome the extra long-term optionality that LeBron’s expiring deal would bring, especially with Christian Braun in line for a new deal,” they wrote.

Some Nuggets fans might not be too happy to give up Murray, but it’s important to note that while Murray is a great player, it’s tough to ignore the possibility of adding a player like James, especially for off-court purposes.

Would the Lakers Trade Lebron?

Ultimately, however, the Denver Nuggets will have to hope that James requests a trade or that the Los Angeles Lakers make him available. 

According to an anonymous scout, the chances of that happening are very slim. The scout noted that there’s a “zero percent chance” that James will be traded, as the Lakers understand what they have on and off the court.

“Please stop this silliness,” the scout told Hoops Wire’s Sam Amico. “There is zero percent chance the Los Angeles Lakers trade LeBron James, even if he demanded it. “Maybe even less than zero. Not happening. Never will.”

“LeBron will play for the Lakers next season and I guarantee that he will be going all out, for the Lakers, with only the Lakers in mind. It’s wildly in his own best interest to do so, and anyone with half a brain understands that.”

James is getting up there in age and wants to win. At this point, it’s almost safe to say that the Nuggets give him a better chance to do that than the Lakers.