7 LeBron James trade ideas for the most untradeable player of all time

7 LeBron James trade ideas for the most untradeable player of all time

7 LeBron James trade ideas for the most untradeable player of all time
NBA

7 LeBron James trade ideas for the most untradeable player of all time

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These are very serious suggestions. We promise. (Fingers crossed.)

During a quiet moment on a nondescript offseason night, NBA finals MVP Kevin Durant and advertising-copywriter-turned-moderately-successful-rapper Lil’ Dicky engaged in a casual conversation about the Cavaliers possibly trading LeBron James. It was civil, sincere, and engaging; a total rarity for Twitter.

The conversation was topical in that LeBron is a free-agent-to-be who’s reportedly frustrated with the Cavaliers’ dysfunction. It was also a complete fantasy because LeBron James cannot be traded — legally because he has a no-trade clause and functionally because no team would ever trade LeBron freakin’ James.

Still, it got us thinking: What if the Cavaliers actually could trade LeBron and decided they needed to do so? What could possibly be fair value for the greatest basketball player of this generation?

Behold, our ideas:

WE’RE ACTUALLY KINDA SERIOUS ABOUT THIS ONE

The trade

LeBron James and Channing Frye to Boston

Al Horford, Jae Crowder, one of Jaylen Brown OR Jayson Tatum, and either the 2018 Nets pick OR the 2018 Lakers/2019 Kings pick from the Markelle Fultz deal to Cleveland

WHY THE CAVS DO IT

There’s a perfect storm of circumstances brewing between Boston’s current place in the NBA hierarchy, its absurd treasure trove of assets, the Cavaliers’ dysfunction, and the threat of James bolting for nothing next summer. In any other year, Dan Gilbert would automatically lean on LeBron and friends for a final title run, but the superteam in the Bay Area changes that dynamic.

If the Cavs are resigned to losing LeBron next summer anyway, netting a haul like this sets them up well for an entire generation moving forward. A potential lineup of Kyrie Irving (should he want to stay with Bron gone), J.R. Smith, Jae Crowder, Kevin Love, and Al Horford with Derrick Rose, Kyle Korver, Tristan Thompson, and one of Brown OR Tatum coming off the bench also ensures the Cavaliers’ short-term prospects won’t be nearly as dark as the last time the King walked.

WHY THE CELTICS DO IT

The same concern that LeBron would leave next summer exists for Boston, but the Celtics have a deeper roster now than Cleveland does and would be a much bigger title threat. LeBron surrounded by Isaiah Thomas, Gordon Hayward, and Brad Stevens would be a lot more likely to knock off the Warriors than LeBron surrounded by a disgruntled Kyrie (or whatever pennies-on-the-dollar return they’d get for him), Kevin Love, and Ty Lue. Getting that ring would be worth it even if LeBron leaves.

There’s also a non-zero chance that LeBron would embrace his situation and sign another contract in Boston. But even if he doesn’t, the Celtics are still set up nicely into the future with two blue-chip players (assuming Thomas re-ups), plenty of promising young players and picks, and one of the best coaches in the league.

BIG BALLER SCENARIO

The trade

LeBron James to the Lakers

The entire Ball family to Cleveland

WHY THE LAKERS DO IT: It’s LeBron-freaking James. You get to put the biggest star in your city since Kobe, and you get to remove a potential headache in LaVar. It’s perfect. Now we don’t just get LeBron gets to go to the most marketable city of his career, giving him the opportunity to start not just “Is LeBron better than MJ?” talk, but also “Is he the best Laker ever?” chatter.

WHY THE CAVS DO IT: Young talent and a new beginning. You trade off LeBron here, Kyrie in a separate deal and suddenly you’ve gone from having a point guard who thinks the world is flat to a family who thinks it revolves around them.

Meanwhile, the Ball family will never reach the heady heights of popularity it craves in Los Angeles. Too many fish, even for a big pond. They can walk in and totally own Cleveland. Big Baller sausages, the Browns will be renamed the “Cleveland Balls,” and in time the city will become “Balleveland.” The sky is the limit for their marketing genius. Also, you know LaVar would write passionate letters in Comic Sans as well.