Might LeBron James’ future lie in the heart of New York City?

 

In a recent broadcast of The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith questioned the Los Angeles Lakers’ prospects in a competitive Western Conference and floated the idea of trading James to a team such as the New York Knicks.

“You have a team like the New York Knicks that has 11 picks over the next seven years,” Smith said. “You go to them and you say ‘You know what, we don’t mind. You want LeBron at the Garden? Give us a couple of first-round picks and a player. If you are the Los Angeles Lakers, you may want to consider it.”

With Los Angeles facing a dire situation, trailing the Denver Nuggets 3-0 in the first round, Stephen A. Smith points out the Lakers’ struggles against Denver, having lost 11 consecutive games to them, including all matchups this season and in the 2022-23 Western Conference Finals.

 

Considering the rising competition in the Western Conference, including teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, and New Orleans Pelicans, Smith suggests that it might be advantageous for the Lakers to acquire assets and offer LeBron James a chance to compete for another championship elsewhere.

 

The New York Knicks, who secured the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference in the 2023-24 season, present a compelling option. They aim to advance past the second round for the first time since 1999-2000. Notably, the Knicks were contenders for James in 2010, and LeBron has shown an affinity towards the franchise, as evidenced by his gesture of grabbing a Knicks towel after a recent game.

 

With a player option for the 2024-25 season, James could potentially explore free agency after the current season.