Lakers' JJ Redick makes LeBron James statement after recent trade rumors

Drama has hit the Los Angeles Lakers organization in recent days.

After the team traded Russell Westbrook during the 2022-23 season, controlling governor Jeanie Buss was left unhappy and was pushing to trade LeBron James to the Los Angeles Clippers, ESPN's Baxter Holmes wrote in an article.

This news was only released nearly three years later, in 2026, and speculation is starting to rise involving LeBron James.

JJ Redick comments on recent LeBron James trade rumors

Now at 41 years old, it appears that the Lakers are doing everything in their power to make roster moves that still involve one of the greatest basketball players of all time. 

However, the recent reports will naturally not sit well with LeBron James. 

Head coach JJ Redick addressed the news, saying that he appreciates all that James has done for the franchise over the years.

"Everybody in this organization appreciates LeBron and appreciates what he’s done for the Lakers. He’s carried on the legacy and also, truthfully, the burden of being a superstar for the Los Angeles Lakers for eight years and he’s done it with class," Redick said, according to NBA insider Dave McMenamin. " I’ve enjoyed coaching him at the highest level - 10 out of 10. That’s not to say LeBron and I don’t have our disagreements, but I know with that guy, he’s going to put everything into this. And it’s been awesome to coach."

This story has brought up concerning speculation as the NBA trade deadline is less than two weeks away. 

Of course, Redick has only been involved with the franchise over the past two seasons. Information like this is far from the head coach's control, but it's nice to see that he has confirmed that there's no player-coach problem.

But this is a situation that's worth monitoring over the next few weeks, but it would be the bombshell of this year's trade deadline while involving the Los Angeles Lakers once again.

Could we be seeing LeBron James getting traded for the first time in his career?

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• Report: Lakers show trade interest in Nets' Nic Claxton