The NBA community was hit with a haymaker after Magic Johnson stepped down from his position as president of basketball operations for the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night. His announcement came as a shock to everyone, including those within the organization and the players, most notably their superstar forward LeBron James.

James was recruited last summer by Johnson and GM Rob Pelinka to become the franchise’s latest superstar after Kobe Bryant retired three seasons ago. He signed a 4-year, $154-million contract with the Lakers last July after he kept the Cleveland Cavaliers on their toes previously with one-year deals to keep the organization focused on surrounding him with championship-caliber talent.

Convincing James to sign a long-term deal was due in large part to the power of Johnson’s presence. The former Cavalier wanted to be part of an organization that showed stability and he felt that in their conversations. That emotion was reflected in his current contract.

With Johnson’s departure, James’ future may have suddenly blurred from the shock of losing a man he respects greatly. There are those who may be wondering if he can use this as an opportunity to request a trade to a team with a better chance to win a title now. After all, it’s not unusual for someone to resign from a company and look for another one after a shakeup in the organization.

But should he?

What If?

If James requests for a trade, the Lakers will have more than a few suitors knocking on their door although there are some title contenders who may not be so inclined to offer anything more than a token phone call. Besides, if you have a team on the brink of a championship, would you want to risk your chances by adding a player who will undoubtedly change the way your team operates?

The Spurs, Raptors, Sixers, Nuggets and Rockets might take a shot at it, but the Bucks, Warriors, Celtics and Thunder won’t be as willing or capable of accommodating the 4-time MVP. Much of the hesitancy is due to many factors not the least of which is James’ tendency to dictate the flow of the offense. In his eyes, he is the system and that was true during his title years with the Heat and Cavs and it was also profoundly clear during his first year in Purple and Gold.

With so many hits on his reputation these days, requesting for a trade might expose him to more scrutiny and criticism than he would like to receive at this point in his career. From questions about his commitment to the team to his lack of production on the court along with age and health concerns, seeking a way out of the Lakers will be akin to him pointing fingers at the franchise to say that they are the ones who messed up and not him. More than likely, however, people will accuse him of making an excuse for why he can’t win a ring in one of the league’s most storied franchises.

Nobody said leading this team to a championship was going to be easy, but no one warned him that it was going to be close to impossible either.

Should He Stay or Should He Go?

What’s essential for James right now is to stay put, “recruit” players to come join him and be a better player next season than he was this year. Rather than look for stability from the management side, he has to be the rock that forms the foundation of a new championship team in L.A.

Remember, Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls faced adversity coming from management itself, as coach Phil Jackson and then GM Jerry Krause clashed. Yet, they went on to win six titles in the 90’s because the team on the floor was united. In the same manner, James has to forget about front office issues and just play basketball at a high level at all times no matter who he plays with or who coaches him next.

At a time when his doubters are counting him out and are expecting him to fail, he has to show that, more than anything, he has the mental and emotional resolve to rise above the challenges ahead of him. He has to relish his time in Tinseltown as an opportunity to show that he can dominate the West in the same way that he owned the East throughout his career.

The next three years will determine James’ legacy as a Laker but it will also add or subtract to his overall legacy as a player. A trade demand would be foolish and the most childish thing for him to do in light of the current circumstances. Johnson’s retirement was unfortunate, but it just means that the trials facing the 33-year old future Hall of Famer could ultimately lead to greener pastures ahead if he plays his cards right and stays.