LeBron James' value on the trade market has dwindled, and while he's still a coveted asset to have, one Western Conference general manager speculates that more owners than executives see value in James at this point, largely because of how his colleagues' jobs involve so much catering to the superstar and his agent, Rich Paul.

Paul, who isn't the most popular of characters with more than a few front offices due to his restricted and elite clientele, poses a problem for those seeking to get James' services, given that it wouldn't be long before they're forced to acquiesce to his demands for his client.

“Even if you're solid in your job, you know that anywhere LeBron goes you're suddenly under the gun,” the Western Conference GM told Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report. “Your only choice is to give him the keys and let him run it. And even if you didn't want that, your owner might. Because he doesn't have to deal with what comes with it.”

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Adding LeBron James to the fold comes with more permutations than the average star, as he has been known to make demands for playmakers, defenders, shooters, and other co-stars to play alongside him since before making his return to Cleveland in 2014.

The toll it takes on the front office to make those decisions to appease him and risk losing jobs at the cost of it is at this point a price most executives are not willing to pay, even if it enhances their chances for a championship.