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The Los Angeles Lakers have a ton of work to do this offseason, including figuring out the future of LeBron James.
James finished his 23rd NBA season with the Lakers and has a player option for the 2026-2027 season that he could end up declining, so he can enter free agency.
Los Angeles could re-sign James to an extension, ensuring he finishes his career as a Laker. However, the franchise did give Austin Reaves a big-time extension on Wednesday, and has other key free agents, such as Rui Hachimura, as well as centers Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes.
Additionally, James is no longer the focal point in Los Angeles, with Luka Doncic taking over as the future face of the franchise. It could just be time for James and the Lakers to part ways, and a recent trade rumor would send the future Hall of Famer back to where it all started to finish his iconic career.
Cavs and Lakers linked to LeBron James for Jarrett Allen trade
During an appearance on ESPN Cleveland radio on Wednesday, ESPN's Brian Windhorst said the Lakers would be interested in signing and trading James to the Cleveland Cavaliers for center Jarrett Allen.
Windhorst adds that James would have to want to sign with the Cavs for this deal to happen, but Los Angeles is reportedly highly intrigued with Allen and would love to add him as their starting center.
"Obviously, LeBron would have to want to sign with the Cavs, but if your pathway to paying LeBron the money is to trade Jarrett Allen for him, the Lakers would kill for Jarrett Allen.. They would do that deal in 17-tenths of a second," Windhorst said.
The Lakers' top priority this offseason has to be finding a big man who fits well with Doncic and can contribute on both ends of the floor. Allen would be that, as the 28-year-old is a double-double threat on any given night and is also a fantastic rim protector.
Allen would be a terrific lob threat for Doncic and is the ideal center to pair with the six-time All-Star.
As for Cleveland, Lebron ending his career with the Cavs would be storybook. Cleveland doesn't have the money to sign James outright if he hits free agency, but this proposed sign-and-trade would create the space by dumping Allen's $90 million deal.
Lebron's fit with the Cavs alongside Donovan Mitchell and James Harden would be awkward, though. Harden is a free agent, but all signs point to the 2017-2018 MVP returning to Cleveland.
James, Mitchell, and Harden are three players who succeed with the ball in their hands, and they prefer to play that way. Though that could cause some trouble, there's no denying the trio would be one of the most talented big threes in the NBA and catapult Cleveland into the biggest threat to the New York Knicks in the East.
Overall, the most likely outcome is that James returns to Los Angeles on a short-term deal. However, if both sides are looking for a fresh start, sending LeBron back home for one last chance to compete for a title with Mitchell and Harden would be awesome.
The Lakers would also emerge as winners in this hypothetical trade, as Allen would address a pressing need and is still fairly young.
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