Through the first half of the 2017-18 NBA season, much of the attention has been on LeBron James' upcoming free agency with the Cleveland Cavaliers. After a 31-22 record that was poor to their standards, general manager Koby Altman and company overhauled their roster by acquiring Rodney Hood, George Hill, Jordan Clarkson, and Larry Nance Jr.
Although the Cavaliers are undefeated since the trade deadline, a lot can happen from now to free agency. According to TMZ Sports, Lonzo Ball's father, LaVar Ball, believes his son will make James better and already has a nickname for them:
For the Lakers, it is no secret what their intentions are in free agency. After trading Clarkson and Nance Jr. for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, and Cleveland's 2018 first round draft pick, they took another major step in creating enough cap space for two max contract players. Along with James, President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka have been heavily linked with Paul George.
After the trade, many were surprised that the Cavaliers essentially helped the Lakers clear a path for two superstars like James and George. However, by keeping the Brooklyn Nets' 2018 first round draft pick, it appears Altman is prepared for either scenario in the offseason after trading for more youth.
Following the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, James will return to Los Angeles for the second and final matchup against the Lakers on Mar. 11. With fans chanting George's name, it will be interesting to see how they approach James as the Lakers look to speed up the rebuilding process.
James is averaging 26.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.9 assists in his 15th season.
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