The Shocking Truth: Lakers' Owner's Secret Plan to Trade LeBron James
In a recent ESPN exposé, reporter Baxter Holmes revealed a stunning insider story that has left basketball fans reeling. The Buss family's decision to sell the Lakers for a whopping $10 billion to Mark Walter in 2025 was a bombshell, and Holmes' article delves into the family drama and the controversial thoughts of Jeanie Buss, the former owner and CEO.
The report sheds light on Jeanie Buss' changing relationship with LeBron James, the NBA superstar who joined the Lakers in 2018 and led them to a championship in 2020. But here's where it gets controversial: by the time the team was sold, Buss had developed a sour taste for James, feeling that his ego was too big for his boots and that he was taking credit for saving the Lakers, despite their struggles post-Kobe Bryant.
And this is the part most people miss: Buss' discontent grew to the point where she considered trading James, the face of the franchise, to the Los Angeles Clippers, their cross-town rivals! Holmes' sources revealed that in 2022, after the infamous Russell Westbrook trade, Buss privately entertained the idea of not extending James' contract and even discussed trading him, with the Clippers as a potential destination.
Just imagining such a trade is mind-boggling. LeBron James, one of the greatest players of all time, being traded voluntarily by his team? It's insane! James, although not at his absolute peak in 2022, was still an elite player and an invaluable asset off the court. The thought of the Lakers trading him, especially to the Clippers, is a scenario straight out of a parallel universe.
What if the Lakers had pulled the trigger on this trade? The Clippers, with James on their roster, could have potentially changed their franchise's fortunes overnight. They might have had to part with Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, but with James on board, they could have had a real shot at success. It's a fun thought experiment, but also a reminder of how close we came to a completely different NBA landscape.
Fortunately for the Lakers, Buss didn't go through with it. The backlash would have been immense, and who knows if they would have ever landed Luka Dončić without James and Anthony Davis' partnership? The future is bright for the Lakers with Dončić and the Walter ownership group, but this report serves as a cautionary tale for fans. It shows how quickly things can change and how the decisions of those in power can shape the destiny of a franchise.
So, what do you think? Is this an alternate universe you'd like to explore further? Or do you think Buss made the right call by keeping James? Let's discuss in the comments and explore the what-ifs of this fascinating NBA story!
