LeBron James, being the most experienced player in NBA history, knows what it takes to win a championship. And as presently constructed, it seems as though James does not foresee much success in the Los Angeles Lakers' future, remarking that “a lot” has to change for the Purple and Gold in the aftermath of the 44-point thrashing they took at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers.

While James made no concrete remarks about what specifically has to change for the Lakers, the King has been passive-aggressive in the past, putting pressure on his team's front office indirectly. This is not the first time in his 21-year career that James has done this; and with time running out on James' Hall of Fame career, the Lakers may have no choice but to swing some trades that will up their title odds considerably.

Fans think that LeBron James' comments of frustration is a call for help, signaling the Lakers to, perhaps, swing a trade for the most readily available star-caliber player on the market — Zach LaVine.

“Cue the Zach LaVine rumors,” Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen and Roll wrote on Twitter (X). Another fan wrote, “watching lebron's post game statements in the locker room tonight it's giving chicago bulls trades, big time.”

The Lakers certainly have a few assets at their disposal to make use to, perhaps, swing a trade for Zach LaVine. They could dangle the likes of Gabe Vincent, Jalen Hood-Schifino, and Max Christie, and if they truly want to go big, they can even include D'Angelo Russell, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, or Jarred Vanderbilt in such transactions.

But some Lakers fans, if they were to witness their team pull off a big trade, seem to prefer to bring back Alex Caruso and take a chance on another capable scoring guard rather than swing for the fences with Zach LaVine and clog their cap sheet even further.

“alex caruso would be huge for the lakers, and a guard that can score not named zach lavine,” one fan wrote. Another fan was more ambitious in his proclamation: “Trade Prince & Gabe for Caruso, fire Ham and hire Mark Jackson and we win the title… SIMPLE.”

With the Lakers these days, nothing is ever as simple as that. But Rob Pelinka and the Lakers have shown before that patience on the trade front does pay off.