With more and more rumors of clashes between LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, there are already those who are beginning to imagine how a hypothetical exchange could work to bring the King back to Cleveland already this summer. Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has imagined an exchange that involves two players of the Cavs but without affecting their core of young stars
That something is going on between LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers it is now established. James’s statements are never made at random, and having used his return to Cleveland on the occasion of the All-Star Weekend to leak that “the door is not closed” to a possible return to the Cavaliers it is more than a wake-up call for yellow-violet. James’s dissatisfaction with the team’s inaction during the transfer deadline is well known, and he has opened up to the possibility of his leaving California in the foreseeable future – for some already this summerdespite the expiration of his contract is scheduled for 2023 and there is possibility of further extending his contract for another two years at the end of this season. But if he does not extend the contract (or if the Lakers do not offer it), then the farewell is almost certain.
The possible exchange between Cavs and Lakers: Sexton, Markkanen and choices
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report pointed out how it is much easier for the Cavs to arrange an exchange now rather than wait and try to free up enough wage space in 2023, for which they would need to sell Lauri Markkanen to get it. To make the trade work with James’s contract, which will earn $ 44.5 million next year, the Cavs would need to trade at least 35.5 million contracts: Kevin Love’s from 28.9 almost succeeds on his own, but it would make little sense for both teams to include him in the trade (and James and Love have remained friends after their time together in Cleveland). Without Love, the easiest contract to swap would be Collin Sexton, who will be a restricted free agent this summer and would welcome a signing with the Lakersnet of the fact that he is represented by Rich Paul, agent of James and Anthony Davis (and, apparently, he too is on a break with the yellow and purple).
By completing this sign-and-trade, the Lakers would have an unsurpassed hard cap set at $ 153.6 million, but without James they are unlikely to spend to get that much – trying to rebuild the roster around Davis and Sexton. The Cavs could include Markkanen himself and / or other “side” players in the exchange such as Cedi Osman, Caris LeVert, Dylan Windler, Dean Wade and Lamar Stevens if they are of interest to the Lakers, also adding one or more first choices to the Draft. Untouchable instead the various young people such as Garland, Allen, Mobley and probably Okorothe players with whom James would like to make a final assault on the title.
deepening
Now everyone wants Bronny James: who gets it?
On the other hand, in case they really manage to get James, most likely the Cavs would immediately extend his contract for another two years to $ 95.7 millionwith a player option for the 2024-25 season in such a way as to be able to break free in case his son Bronny is ready to land in the NBA in Draft 2024, the last major goal of James’ career. Obviously the Cavs themselves could be interested in choosing Bronny in the Draft, provided that their choice 2024 has not in the meantime ended at the Lakers just to take dad LeBron: a complicated scenario, but one that could find a solution as early as this July.
