The Los Angeles Lakers are currently one of the worst teams in the NBA.
Aside from the Houston Rockets, nobody in the Western Conference has as few wins as L.A. And unlike the Rockets, the Lakers don’t own their draft pick this year – meaning that they can’t even benefit from their awfulness.
With few paths to fixing the roster, many have started to wonder if perhaps the right move for Los Angeles isn’t to blow it all up.
Because Anthony Davis is still only 29 years old, it would make sense if L.A. wanted to retain him. He could be a foundational piece to build around, despite his injury woes.
LeBron James, however, is 37 years old. And for the first time in his lengthy career, the mileage is starting to show.
If the Lakers do opt to trade James, the Phoenix Suns have been mentioned as a legitimate potential trade destination.
“A Western Conference scout pointed to the Phoenix Suns as a far more ideal candidate should they find themselves once again falling short this season in their quest for the franchise’s first championship, after reaching the Finals two years ago and then getting knocked out in a seven-game, second-round series by Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks last year,” Ric Bucher of Fox Sports reported recently.
It helps that the Suns boast one of James’ best friends.
“The presence of one of LeBron’s best friends, Chris Paul, would make it especially appealing,” Bucher continued.
The scout in question believes that the prospect of helping his good friend win his first ever championship would be appealing to James.
“It’s the one place he’d be welcome with open arms,” the scout admitted. “In Phoenix, with LeBron, I think Chris would finally get his ring.”
It will be interesting to see where the Lakers go from here. The tension between the front office and James is building due to their lack of urgency in improving the roster.
Meanwhile, the only moves L.A. has been linked to in recent weeks are being one of two teams interested in Bojan Bogdanovic, three free agent sharpshooters and a possible deal with the San Antonio Spurs.
No wonder the Dolphins keep winning. https://t.co/b3wWrOzXRT
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 14, 2022
None of those things would likely turn them into a championship contender.
Which begs the obvious question: then why keep James? If you’re legitimately hunting for a title, then what good is a 37-year-old star to you?
That is a question the Lakers will need to answer sooner rather than later.
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
