Would Lebron ever force a trade to another city to get more titles?

[nickagneta]

Seeing Lebron watching the Finals court side it struck me that maybe Lebron was doing some scouting, like for a place to land to get titles #5 and #6 to tie Michael Jordan's 6 titles. It's pretty obvious that Lebron sees himself as the best basketball player ever, a title he will never hold if he can't at least get one, if not two more titles. MJ going 6 for 6 in the Finals would be hard to overcome in a best player ever discussion, but getting 6 titles while also going to 6 other Finals might just do it.

So how does an aging and slowing down Lebron get those last two titles? Well, maybe he's decided Anthony Davis won't hold up or can take over the reins of the team while Lebron declines. Maybe he decides the best way to more titles is getting out of LA and pairing up with a #1/Batman type guy, so he can, for the first time in his career, move into a #2/ Robin guy role.

And who would have a great #1/Batman type player that Lebron could ride the coattails of to another couple of championships?

Giannis Antetokounmpo seems like a good place to start. If Giannis can lead that Milwaukee team to a title with Middleton and Holiday as his support, how much easier would it be if Lebron was Giannis' Robin? Yeah, there are the Milwaukee winters problem, but Lebron grew up in Akron and played a decade in Cleveland, he has dealt with winters in small crappy Midwestern cities most of his life, what's two more years in Wisconsin? Nothing to him, I am sure.

There is other teams he might entertain. Golden State with Steph and whoever else is around after the trade. That might work, even if it gets Steph to 5 titles.

Could Dallas work? Playing with Doncic would seem enticing to Lebron. That pairing with some quality surrounding parts would be scary. And Dallas I think would be all in for Lebron as there is already word they are attempting to clear the books for Kawhi. Lebron would be the better get.

I don't know. The Lakers took a noticeable step back this year. Yeah, injuries, Covid, short turnaround, condensed season. Where have we heard that before(oh that's right, it was me talking about the Celtics)? Davis was hurt. He has been hurt a lot in his career. Can Lebron count on him to become THE guy and be healthy enough to do it for two more runs? Is the financial structure of the team such that management won't be able to make the team better and back to title winning form?

So maybe such a move is possible. And maybe that's what was going through Lebron's mind as he sat court side watching the Finals instead of playing in them. Lebron wants those two titles and you know it was killing him wasting a year not vying for the title, knowing he doesn't have too many title runs left in him.

He probably won't. But there is always a chance.

[PAOBoston]

I could see him going back to Miami maybe. But don’t see it with Dallas or Milwaukee.

[hpantazo]

I could see him going back to Miami maybe. But don’t see it with Dallas or Milwaukee.

While I don't see it happening for several reasons, it would be nice to see him go back to Cleveland to end his career.

Going to Nickagenta's original point, I would not be surprised if Lebron is seriously considering joining his good friend Chris Paul on the Suns to go for a few more titles with the talented young guys they have in Booker and Ayton. Add Lebron to that lineup and move Crowder to the bench, that's a legit contender for the next few years.

Plus, the Suns trainers and medical staff are famous for the excellent work they do in maintaining health of their players and prolonging careers.

It would require Chris Paul declining his 44 million dollar player option and working a new deal, but with Lebron involved I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem.

[greg683x]

I could see him going back to Miami maybe. But don’t see it with Dallas or Milwaukee.

While I don't see it happening for several reasons, it would be nice to see him go back to Cleveland to end his career.

Going to Nickagenta's original point, I would not be surprised if Lebron is seriously considering joining his good friend Chris Paul on the Suns to go for a few more titles with the talented young guys they have in Booker and Ayton. Add Lebron to that lineup and move Crowder to the bench, that's a legit contender for the next few years.

Plus, the Suns trainers and medical staff are famous for the excellent work they do in maintaining health of their players and prolonging careers.

It would require Chris Paul declining his 44 million dollar player option and working a new deal, but with Lebron involved I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem.

I do agree with Nicks post that his ultimate goal is to get 6 titles to ultimately level the debate as much as possible.  But how spineless of a move would this be to the Suns?  We can all agree he’s been title chasing for some time but a cherry picking move like this is so blatant that it would hurt his look in the Jordan discussion as much as the titles would help

I really think he ends his career in LA, there more reasons he went there than just title chances.  After all there were more established teams he could have chose at the time over the Lakers. 

[hpantazo]

I could see him going back to Miami maybe. But don’t see it with Dallas or Milwaukee.

While I don't see it happening for several reasons, it would be nice to see him go back to Cleveland to end his career.

Going to Nickagenta's original point, I would not be surprised if Lebron is seriously considering joining his good friend Chris Paul on the Suns to go for a few more titles with the talented young guys they have in Booker and Ayton. Add Lebron to that lineup and move Crowder to the bench, that's a legit contender for the next few years.

Plus, the Suns trainers and medical staff are famous for the excellent work they do in maintaining health of their players and prolonging careers.

It would require Chris Paul declining his 44 million dollar player option and working a new deal, but with Lebron involved I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem.

I do agree with Nicks post that his ultimate goal is to get 6 titles to ultimately level the debate as much as possible.  But how spineless of a move would this be to the Suns?  We can all agree he’s been title chasing for some time but a cherry picking move like this is so blatant that it would hurt his look in the Jordan discussion as much as the titles would help

I really think he ends his career in LA, there more reasons he went there than just title chances.  After all there were more established teams he could have chose at the time over the Lakers.

I think KD set the bar at spineless when he joined the Warriors. Lebron going to the Suns would be a bad look, but still far below what KD did.

[Moranis]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Lebron will retire with the Lakers (or at least his last actual season - he might sign a 1 day contract to retire as a Cav) unless he has an opportunity to play with his son.  If his son actually makes the league and Lebron is still playing, I think he'd want to share the court with him. 

There is no better place in the league to attract top talent than the Lakers.  If Davis isn't good enough, the Lakers will just trade him for someone that is.

[celticsclay]

Lebron has started to slow down with some injuries. Not sure how much he has left

[nickagneta]

Lebron has started to slow down with some injuries. Not sure how much he has left

Exactly my point. Father time wins all the time and there are only so many playoff runs left for Lebron to win his two titles. And unlike Moranis, I am not sure LA wins another with Lebron. It will be near impossible to fit another max level player on the team with Davis and Lebron alone making up $75 million and $82 million the next two years. Besides Davis they have absolutely no assets to trade for a top level guy.

Now that doesn't mean I think Lebron will seek to leave LA, family and business ties and all, but watching him watch that game, it made me think it was at least a possibility.

[gouki88]

He certainly could, but I don't know what kind of trade packages would be out there. I would think it more likely he enters free agency and tries to play with his son, if he makes it. Otherwise, he could go ring-chasing. I don't think he'd go to PHX in a trade, mainly because Booker or Paul are the only suitable salaries and PHX have a fair amount of salary tied up in Ayton, Crowder and Saric.

I think if it's not to play with his son then he'd move to secure legacy. With that in mind, moving to a franchise that has historically come close but never won a title might appeal, especially if said team is already close to competing. What about Utah? He'd get to play in front of good friend D-Wade. If I'm Utah I'd probably consider trading Gobert for LeBron

[Who]

Not now. Who knows in a few seasons time.

AD and LeBron are an excellent tandem. They do not need a 3rd star to win another title. They need better role players.

LeBron still has lots of basketball left in him. A few more seasons as a #1 before transitioning into a #2/#3 if he so wishes. I expect him to hang on as a #1 for as long as possible because his game is geared towards being the main ball-handler / the man.

These writing offs of LeBron as old or the Lakers as a title contender are premature.

[greg683x]

I could see him going back to Miami maybe. But don’t see it with Dallas or Milwaukee.

While I don't see it happening for several reasons, it would be nice to see him go back to Cleveland to end his career.

Going to Nickagenta's original point, I would not be surprised if Lebron is seriously considering joining his good friend Chris Paul on the Suns to go for a few more titles with the talented young guys they have in Booker and Ayton. Add Lebron to that lineup and move Crowder to the bench, that's a legit contender for the next few years.

Plus, the Suns trainers and medical staff are famous for the excellent work they do in maintaining health of their players and prolonging careers.

It would require Chris Paul declining his 44 million dollar player option and working a new deal, but with Lebron involved I'm sure that wouldn't be a problem.

I do agree with Nicks post that his ultimate goal is to get 6 titles to ultimately level the debate as much as possible.  But how spineless of a move would this be to the Suns?  We can all agree he’s been title chasing for some time but a cherry picking move like this is so blatant that it would hurt his look in the Jordan discussion as much as the titles would help

I really think he ends his career in LA, there more reasons he went there than just title chances.  After all there were more established teams he could have chose at the time over the Lakers.

I think KD set the bar at spineless when he joined the Warriors. Lebron going to the Suns would be a bad look, but still far below what KD did.

No one said it would be worse than KD, but it’s still spineless and a huge dent in the Jordan debate, which is what this is all about.

People already rag on him for teaming up with Wade and Bosh, they would never let a move like this go

[SparzWizard]

LeBron would go to Milwaukee. Gets to team up with Giannis.

[Kiorrik]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Lebron will retire with the Lakers (or at least his last actual season - he might sign a 1 day contract to retire as a Cav) unless he has an opportunity to play with his son.  If his son actually makes the league and Lebron is still playing, I think he'd want to share the court with him. 

There is no better place in the league to attract top talent than the Lakers.  If Davis isn't good enough, the Lakers will just trade him for someone that is.

Fifth greatest Laker.

...  kek

[celticsclay]

Not now. Who knows in a few seasons time.

AD and LeBron are an excellent tandem. They do not need a 3rd star to win another title. They need better role players.

LeBron still has lots of basketball left in him. A few more seasons as a #1 before transitioning into a #2/#3 if he so wishes. I expect him to hang on as a #1 for as long as possible because his game is geared towards being the main ball-handler / the man.

These writing offs of LeBron as old or the Lakers as a title contender are premature.

He has battled significant injuries two of the last three seasons. AD is probably already more important to the lakers than lebron. this few more seasons as a number one seems like quite a stretch.

[celticsclay]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Lebron will retire with the Lakers (or at least his last actual season - he might sign a 1 day contract to retire as a Cav) unless he has an opportunity to play with his son.  If his son actually makes the league and Lebron is still playing, I think he'd want to share the court with him. 

There is no better place in the league to attract top talent than the Lakers.  If Davis isn't good enough, the Lakers will just trade him for someone that is.

Fifth greatest Laker.

...  kek

I mean kareem, wilt, Shaq, kobe, west, magic, mikan, worthy. He passes which of these guys in 2.5 seasons?