LeBron James has been lauded as the best player in the league for most of his 16 years in the NBA, and while the market still has him as one of the most coveted talents to step on the hardwood, an owner thinks his recent groin injury has made him mortal for the first time in his career.
While league executives were pining for him during free agency and hoping to secure a meeting with The King this past free agency, the 17 straight games he missed earlier this season have come as a sign that Father Time might still be undefeated after all.
“The injury changed things more than anything else,” a Western Conference owner told Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report.
Many expect James and the Lakers to go back to the drawing board once again this summer, but the young core has already proven to be a no-go with The King.
“I don't see him being able to raise a bunch of young pups,” an Eastern Conference VP said. “It's going to be all about familiarity with LeBron. They'll ask him, ‘What it's going to take?' He will say, ‘This, this and this,' and they'll get the band back together.
The possibility of trading James is rather feint, but one that could take place if the Lakers can't get Anthony Davis in a trade or lure any other stars to partner James with.
“The wild card is Jeanie Buss,” said the VP. “She could… ask LeBron, ‘If you're not with all this, tell us where you want us to send you and we'll make it happen.'”
As of now, that remains an outside possibility, but one that would require the Lakers to be at their last straw before deciding to go back on what they planned to have in Los Angeles for four years.
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