LeBron James' career has been no stranger to bizarre storylines. He's the most high-profile athlete in the country, and perhaps the world. Now that James is fully entrenched with the Los Angeles Lakers, it would only make sense for the unbelievable stories to follow.

But what are the truly bizarre storylines that can happen in Los Angeles?

An altercation with a teammate

The cast of characters LeBron has played with over the years is pretty remarkable. Delonte West, Chris “Birdman” Andersen, and J.R. Smith are just a few names. Heck, even Kyrie Irving has his quirks. James always seems to find a way to play alongside complete wild cards.

For instance, J.R. Smith threw a bowl of soup at an assistant coach amid a tough stretch for the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. Although LeBron was not directly involved there, there's no telling what happens alongside his new teammates.

For the most part, don't expect much friction between LeBron and the young core of the Lakers. Guys like Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart aren't the likely candidates to get involved in any kind of dust-up or altercation with their new leader. While they are all brimming with confidence, they will defer to LeBron in any situations like that.

As for the veterans the Lakers signed this offseason, that's a much different story. Michael Beasley is eccentric in his own way, but he and James were teammates for a year in Miami and they seem to have a great relationship together so count him out.

JaVale McGee is another candidate, but he's coming off two championships where he had to defer to a number of superstars. McGee probably won't be a problem.

Rajon Rondo is another veteran coming in with a checkered history. He had his fair share of run-ins with his teammates in Boston. He was a disaster in Dallas and has bounced around from team to team since his glory days with the Celtics. Perhaps a poor stretch during the season causes tensions to rise and Rondo and James get into it with one another. Crazier things have happened.

lebron James, lance stephenson, javale mcgee, rajon rondo
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But the one guy we're all thinking of is Lance Stephenson. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed his career through the years. Lance's career is defined by a few things, but maybe most prominently by his role as a LeBron James antagonizer. Although he never was able to overcome LeBron's teams in the playoffs, Stephenson was always the gnat buzzing around James' head and occasionally blowing into his ear.

Not to mention, Stephenson's only real success in the league has come in Indiana. Of course, Lance has said LeBron wanted to bring him to Los Angeles. Perhaps James wants to use him as an attack dog. But if there's one thing Lance is good at, it's making it his mission to antagonize LeBron. These two in close proximity could end in a truly bizarre altercation.

Blockbuster trade

Trade rumors surrounded the Lakers this offseason. As currently comprised, the Lakers' roster doesn't look to have enough firepower to challenge the Golden State Warriors. Naturally, Kawhi Leonard became a constant subject of debate and trade rumors. The All-Star swingman would immediately make the Lakers a threat to the Warriors' dynasty.

But once Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors (a bizarre story in its own right), the trade rumors surrounding the Lakers were significantly tamped down — for now.

As the season progresses, expect trade speculation to pick up steam. If the Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, or Portland Trail Blazers stumble out of the gates, pundits will begin to weigh the likelihood that one of these teams will blow it up and try to regroup without their star. Leonard is in the final year of his deal, so if Toronto is not jelling by the trade deadline, Masai Ujiri might look to recoup assets.

LeBron James Jimmy Butler
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Jimmy Butler already looks like he's counting down the days in Minnesota. He's a free agent this summer and has reportedly expressed an openness to Los Angeles, making him another candidate for a trade come February.

Damian Lillard is one of the premier players in the league, but after a first-round sweep last season, many question whether or not Portland can win with him at the helm. If the Lakers present the right deal, would Portland be willing to part with its All-Star point guard?

All of these scenarios are lurking, and any rumor or speculation would involve the precocious young Lakers. With their heavy use of social media, the trade deadline could be filled with cryptic emojis, late night Instagram stories, and angst in the Lakers locker room.

LeBron misses the playoffs

James has made the playoffs in 13 straight seasons. He has made the last eight NBA Finals, which fans seem to take for granted even though that is a jaw-dropping accomplishment for a player in today's NBA. It's even more astounding when you look at the team LeBron carried on his back to the Finals last season.

Not many expect James and the Lakers to make the NBA Finals. Golden State's dynasty looms large over the entire Western Conference. Not making the Finals wouldn't shock anyone, but missing the playoffs entirely? That would be a truly bizarre storyline to watch unfold.

When was the last time we watched a LeBron James-led team scratch and claw their way to a playoff spot? It's something most of us can't even fathom anymore. But that's exactly what might happen to the Lakers. The Western Conference is stacked this season with at least 12 teams with playoff aspirations.

If you asked me to place a bet on it, I'd bet that the Lakers make the playoffs and probably wind up somewhere between the three seed and the six seed.

That being said, the most bizarre storyline that could come from LeBron James' first season in Los Angeles could be his absence from the playoffs.