Google News NBA insider shares thoughts on LeBron James' future with Lakers
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ESPN's NBA insider Brian Windhorst says he believes LeBron James does not really want to leave the Los Angeles Lakers. James, 37, is entering the final year of his contract with the Lakers and he could be a free agent next summer.
Even though James is set to turn 38 in December, he is still one of the most dominant players in the NBA. Since James is still playing at an extremely high level, the belief is that there would be a big interest for him if he became a free agent next summer.
“I don’t sense that LeBron wants to leave the Lakers,” Windhorst said on ESPN Daily. “But I would be remiss to not point out that the Cavs have positioned themselves to have huge salary cap space next summer when LeBron could potentially be a free agent and they have this growing young team.
In fact, the team that they have right now is more potent than the team that they had that he returned to in 2014”.
The Lakers not interested in trading James
Robert Horry, who won two NBA titles with the Lakers, recently said James wasn't untouchable in trade talks.
“I think there’s only probably one dude in the league right now — or two dudes — I’d say two dudes that aren’t on the trading block,” Horry said. “That’s Luka and Steph.
Everybody else can be traded”. Last month, Kevin Durant requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. Reflecting on that, Horry said the Lakers should contact the Nets and trade James for Durant. “Hell yeah,” Horry said when asked for his opinion on whether the Lakers would move from James.
“Let’s say I give you KD (Kevin Durant). If you Rob Pelinka and someone says, ‘Okay, I’ll give you KD for LeBron,’ you have to do that trade”. Fox Sports' Chris Broussard spoke to a source close to James and reported James would not prefer a trade to the Nets.
Also, Broussard noted the Lakers respect James and would not just go out and trade him. "I talked with someone close to LeBron and he would not want this to happen. The Lakers respect LeBron enough that they'll do what he wants to do," Broussard said.
The Lakers missed out on the playoffs last season and James wasn't too thrilled about it. Going into the new season, James will be motivated to bounce back and win his fifth NBA title.