When asked if he ever considered signing with the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was open, admitting that he had “had that thought in his career” ahead of a Saturday night dance-off between two of the NBA’s most popular teams.
Fans who were present during his first journey into free agency in 2010 recall the excitement surrounding LeBron James. Not only was there excitement surrounding him as a player, but there was also speculation that he might leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for a glitzy franchise like the New York Knicks. In fact, it was such a significant occasion that then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg attempted to attract him to the Knicks.
14 years later, LeBron is no longer the spry 25-year-old in the prime of his career. He’s a decorated NBA legend with an impressive trophy case. As the GOAT argument rages on, he has a legacy comparable to basketball legend Michael Jordan.
Nonetheless, James has a $51.4 million player option on his contract for the 2024-25 season, which could lead him to free agency this offseason. To that point, his reluctance to re-sign with the consistently underperforming Lakers has raised the chance that he will leave this summer.
All 30 teams would most certainly be interested in LeBron. However, given their playoff status, the Knicks figure to be a viable landing point. Furthermore, All-Stars Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, as well as defensive stalwart OG Anunoby, are expected to entice James.
So, seeing him and Brunson praise one other ahead of their Saturday night battle, it’s not impossible to imagine LeBron attempting to form a superteam in the Big Apple. One consisted of him, Brunson, Randle, and Anunoby.
If the New York Knicks execute a sign-and-trade to obtain LeBron James, they may conceivably keep Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and OG Anunoby. However, high-end role players like as Donte DiVincenzo, Isaiah Hartenstein, and Josh Hart may also be left off the table.
With that mix of active defenders and volume scorers, LeBron may retire on a team that complements him better than the Lakers’ current roster.
Anthony Davis, the Lakers’ standout big man, has been dominant during his stay in Los Angeles. Furthermore, during the LeBron era in Los Angeles, guys like Austin Reaves and D’Angelo Russell had breakout seasons. However, their defensive fragility detracts from their total quality. Their offense is also streaky.
Consider this: Brunson is a more dynamic and efficient scorer than Reaves or Russell. In fact, he is almost as productive as Reaves and Russell combined. Brunson is a 3-level scorer with exceptional footwork, averaging 27.3 points per game, while Reaves and Russell combine for 32.6 points per game. Furthermore, Anunoby outperforms Reaves as an off-ball threat and perimeter defender. The Knicks clearly have a superior backcourt.
The Lakers have some great offensive players, including Christian Wood and Rui Hachimura. However, they appear to be underutilized because the Lakers’ greatest starters play the same position. As a result, the Knicks’ roster may still look more tempting. Even with Davis’s defensive advantage over Randle.
It’s never simple to pinpoint LeBron James’ future goals unless they’re made public. Nonetheless, with the Los Angeles Lakers failing to meet expectations, the writing could be on the wall. At 39 years old, James is in the prime of his profession. Putting aside the cryptic hourglass tweets, time is of the essence.
Finally, if the Lakers want to keep LeBron this offseason, they should prepare to compete for his services. If they aren’t in title contention, there’s no reason for LeBron to stay with the Lakers.
