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A return to Miami is something that LeBron James looks forward to every season. Due to the Los Angeles Lakers being in the Western Conference, this trip only comes once a year, and Wednesday night offered LeBron a chance to take a trip down memory lane and escape what has been a rocky season for the Lakers lately.
On the verge of his 40th birthday, James finds himself in the midst of his 20th season. South Beach will always hold a special place in his heart, as he won two regular-season MVPs, two Finals MVPs, and two championships as the face of the Miami Heat. These accolades and championships help define James' historic career, one that could be coming to an end sooner than many imagined. This is because a special trip through LeBron's past quickly turned into nightmares for the Lakers.
All of the talk about the end of LeBron's Hall of Fame career and Los Angeles' struggles has reached new heights after the Heat trounced them by 41 points on Wednesday night in a 134-93 game. For the second straight game, the Lakers failed to eclipse 100 points, and it was also the third time in their last four contests. This was the third-worst loss the Lakers have suffered in the LeBron era.
The Lakers kicked off the 2024-25 season with a 10-4 record. All seemed right under JJ Redick's new leadership, and the team was near the top of the Western Conference standings. That is no longer the Lakers' reality, as they are now 12-10 on the season. More importantly, and perhaps Los Angeles' greatest concern, is that age is beginning to catch up to James.
Consistent 20-point nights have been a thing of the past for LeBron this season. The same can be said about his endless motor and ability to score in the paint on any possession. Time is running out not only for James but also for the Lakers in terms of being true title contenders.
So what could this all mean? There is no certainty when LeBron could retire, although speculation is that he will do so immediately following the 2025-26 season. With the Lakers' problems running a lot deeper than just a few bad games and the team asking too much of James, now could be the time when one of the greatest players in league history makes a key decision as to how he wants to finish his career. More specifically, the Lakers star must come face-to-face with trade rumors after James saw himself involved in discussions with the Golden State Warriors.
LeBron being traded to the Warriors was an idea that arose at the trade deadline last season. While this was nothing more than a long-shot effort by Golden State, there was a level of mutual interest that existed between the Warriors' core and James, league sources told ClutchPoints at the time. The Lakers were not willing to discuss James' future whatsoever in trade talks, which is why he remained in Los Angeles and signed a new two-year, $101.3 million contract that allows him to opt out next summer once again.
However, James is the one who controls his future with a full no-trade clause, allowing him to be the one to dictate any trade talks that may happen. His agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, rapidly stopped trade discussions involving James and the Warriors last season. The Lakers too held no interest. But if James is the one who wants the change at the end of his career and with the Lakers struggling, the organization would be forced to take action.
There is still a lot of basketball yet to be played, and the Lakers are simply in the midst of a rough stretch. LeBron has never been one to jump ship and give up in the middle of a season, and there are alternate avenues Los Angeles can take as a franchise to improve outside of having to trade James. At the same time, with James' basketball immortality fading and him not getting any younger, the idea of LeBron being involved in a trade to the Warriors or another team is certainly worth pondering.
Father Time finally catching LeBron James
LeBron is 39 years old. He will turn 40 on December 30 in what will surely be a celebrity-flocked joint birthday and New Year's celebration for the James family. After averaging 25.7 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game and shooting a career-best 41.0 percent from three-point range last year, LeBron's scoring numbers have taken a hit early this season.
Through 22 games, James is averaging 22.3 points, 9.0 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game while shooting 34.2 percent from three-point range and just under 50 percent from the floor. For any other player in the league, these would be All-Star-like numbers that result in them receiving MVP consideration. This is LeBron we are talking about, though, and his slight offensive decline is a result of not having the same burst he had a season ago.
Over his last seven games, James has recorded 20 or more points in just two contests. In this span, LeBron has shot just 3-of-30 (10.0 percent) from three-point range, and Los Angeles' offense has been among the worst in the league.
Even LeBron's streak of scoring 10-plus points in what is now 1,244 straight games was in jeopardy of being snapped when he scored only 10 points in a 109-80 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. With the Lakers trailing by 23 points in this game, James knocked down one of two shots at the free-throw line to keep the streak alive.
Despite still putting together an All-NBA season in Los Angeles, LeBron's struggles are a direct result of the mileage he has on his legs. No athlete can play forever, and the NBA world is finally beginning to see that with James.
“Is Father Time catching up to him, absolutely, because Father Time catches up to everyone,” Warriors' forward and James' friend Draymond Green said on his podcast recently. “However, where I disagree is people are saying, we just saw it, he’s done now, we’ve been waiting on it, he’s done. No, no, no I disagree with that. Quite frankly, what it looks like to me is he’s a little tired.
“When you hit walls you eventually get through the wall, but right now I think he’s a little tired and hit a wall. Does that mean Father Time is catching up to him the way y’all are saying it? No.”
Former NBA point guard Jeff Teague has joined Green in the Father Time discussion regarding James, claiming that LeBron needs to rest and that this could be his final season in the NBA.
But James' numbers are not bad. At nearly 40 years old, his averages would still be significant to any playoff-contending team in the league. One of the main problems in Los Angeles is that the team needs offensive consistency from James to find success since Anthony Davis is their only other reliable threat.
LeBron is LeBron, and he is going to break out of his slump eventually. Whether or not it will be too late and whether the Lakers have the pieces around him to be a successful team are the two biggest questions that cloud James' future.
Lakers' struggles directly tied to roster construction
Ever since the Lakers won their championship in the 2020 NBA Bubble, they have constantly tinkered with their roster.
The Russell Westbrook trade in 2021 left Los Angeles with several holes to fill due to the financial ramifications of tying Westbrook's contract with those of James and Davis. A surprise trip to the 2023 Western Conference Finals and winning the first-ever NBA In-Season Tournament last season masked the fact that this franchise had not found any success since its championship run during the pandemic.
Three different head coaches have led the Lakers in the span of four seasons. Frank Vogel and Darvin Ham were both relieved of their duties because they failed to meet expectations. The only problem is that they were both set up to fail because the expectations placed on their roster were unachievable, regardless of how well LeBron and Davis were playing. Now, the same thing is happening to Redick.
Back-to-back losses by a combined 70 points are not and should not be labeled as Redick's fault by any means. There are obviously things the first-year head coach is still learning and will work towards improving, but the biggest problem Los Angeles has right now is what they've been dealing with since that 2020 championship run.
Despite having talented players, the Lakers' roster isn't the right fit for the talent needed next to James and Davis. This group lacks confidence, perimeter shooting has been abysmal, and the fire that once existed within this group has been snuffed out as if they had been voted off the island in Survivor.
James realizes this, which is why he made no apologies in his postgame comments following their 41-point loss in Miami.
“I mean, I think we should watch it for sure and just see when you’re individually f***ing up and you're trying to rely on everybody else to cover for you. I think it starts with the individuals first. All of us have to take accountability. It’s great to see it on film and address it right then and there and go from there,” James said on Wednesday night. “So many great teams out here and anytime you make a mistake, especially with us — teams will make you pay. And Miami, obviously, like you said, tied a franchise record for threes, made us pay every time.
“We have horrible communication and they made us pay.”
It is clear to see that LeBron is frustrated. Who wouldn't be after being blown out in back-to-back games and seeing your teammates not doing anything to fix their mistakes?
With the NBA trade deadline nine weeks away, the Lakers seem like a team that will almost certainly make at least one roster change.
D'Angelo Russell is a player Los Angeles has been open to discussing in talks with a $18.6 million expiring contract. Although the Lakers have been hesitant to talk about Rui Hachimura or Austin Reaves dating back to last season, perhaps both talents could be available for the right price. Gabe Vincent, Jarred Vanderbilt, and Jalen Hood-Schifino are three other players that could be included in any possible trade package for a high-profile player as salary fillers.
The Lakers can also trade outright first-round picks in 2029, 2030, and 2031. All three of these first-round picks could certainly be viewed as valuable around the league, given Los Angeles' current struggles and LeBron's age.
Of course, the elephant still in the room is James' future and what he ultimately wants.
Bronny James, LeBron's eldest son, was drafted by the Lakers this past offseason. Playing alongside his son was one of James' biggest goals near the end of his career, and he's had the opportunity to do so. He has also fulfilled his obligation to the Lakers since he first signed with them in 2018 by winning a championship.
At this time, there has been zero internal discussion about the Lakers not wanting James on their roster, league sources confirmed to ClutchPoints. LeBron and the Lakers both want to win, and the veteran has been a big supporter of Redick in his first season. As much as Los Angeles believes in James at this point in his career, are those feelings mutual? After all, James has made it clear that all he has left to do in his career is win, and the current trajectory of the Lakers doesn't necessarily align with this mentality.
The Lakers are struggling mightily, and their Western Conference foes, the Warriors, desperately need another star to alleviate pressure off Stephen Curry. If there was any time for trade rumors between the two sides regarding James to surface once again, it would be at this moment.
Would LeBron, Lakers entertain trade talks with Warriors, others?
A lot has changed for the Warriors. Klay Thompson left for the Dallas Mavericks in the offseason, and for once, this organization does not own the highest tax bill in the NBA. Owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. prioritized their future over spending freely over the summer, which is why the organization didn't make a major free agency signing or trade acquisition.
That doesn't mean Golden State didn't try.
Paul George and Lauri Markkanen were two All-Star talents the Warriors held a strong interest in. Trade talks with the LA Clippers and Utah Jazz, respectively, fell apart due to Lacob and Dunleavy not wanting to sacrifice their entire future. This includes Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, and six first-round picks, some of which can only be dealt in a swap.
A lot has happened since Golden State decided to hold off on sacrificing their youth. Kuminga and the team failed to reach a contract extension before the start of the season. Moody signed a three-year, $39 million deal that still keeps him in a very tradeable position. Of course, the big storyline surrounding this organization is that they have gone from 12-3 overall to 12-8 due to a five-game losing streak. Podziemski has received a lot of criticism from fans and even head coach Steve Kerr during this recent skid.
The Warriors have long had a list of superstars on their potential wish list, and James has always been included. After he and Curry enjoyed playing together at the Olympics and winning a gold medal, the idea of the two superstars going from sworn rivals to teammates has been floated around time and time again.
However, a multitude of things would need to happen in order for the dialogue between LeBron, the Lakers, and the Warriors to happen. In addition to James needing to go to the Lakers brass and explicitly say that he wants to be traded to Golden State due to his no-trade clause, the Dubs would need to put together a package that would be good enough for Los Angeles to accept.
Financially speaking, both teams are pressed for funds. The Warriors are hard-capped at the first apron and are only about $500,000 below this mark. While the Lakers are not hard-capped, they are just $30,001 below the second apron and would like to remain below this line. That is where things could get tricky regarding the crazy, hypothetical idea of LeBron being traded to the Warriors with his $48.7 million salary.
Once again, there is nothing to suggest that James wants to request a trade from the Lakers. Due to the struggles both Los Angeles and Golden State face early in the 2024-25 season, revisiting trade discussions pertaining to LeBron is certainly worth raising an eyebrow to.
The Warriors need someone else next to Curry who can not only bring the ball up the floor but help create opportunities for others on offense. That is where James could thrive, as the chemistry he and Curry built in Paris during the Olympics was remarkable. In Los Angeles, there is a clear need for cap flexibility and future assets to build around Davis. The idea of adding James makes a whole lot of sense for the Warriors, yet doing so gives Golden State a one- or two-year window to win championships. After that, the Warriors would be left with zero depth, zero future assets, and a team that doesn't have Curry, Green, or James.
If the Warriors aren't the answer for LeBron, could there be another team that makes sense for James to want to join this late in his career? Outside of Los Angeles, the only other organizations that make sense are, coincidentally, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Heat. Still, the financial ramifications of a hypothetical trade end up taking over, which would lead to an almost impossible route for Cleveland or Miami to pursue James. Not to mention, the Cavs are 19-3 at the top of the NBA world.
LeBron requesting a trade to the Dubs before the trade deadline in February is the only path to the Warriors and Lakers getting what they need right now. With this said, neither organization is panicking amid their losing ways.
Although the Warriors and Lakers will likely be two of the most active teams in the Western Conference ahead of the trade deadline, a dream of Steph and LeBron teaming up in Golden State is nothing more than that — a dream.
