‘Multiple teams’ preparing for LeBron trade request; Cavs eyeing wing upgrades – NBA Rumour Mill

Basketball
Published 09.01.2023
‘Multiple teams’ preparing for LeBron trade request; Cavs eyeing wing upgrades – NBA Rumour Mill

Rival groups are reportedly bracing for at the very least the chance LeBron James will request a commerce out of LA.

Plus a contender is eyeing a key roster improve.

Catch up on the entire newest whispers in our NBA Rumour Mill!

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Mon, 09 Jan

Monday January ninth

Miami deliver the warmth towards Phoenix | 01:13

TEAMS PREPARING FOR POTENTIAL LEBRON TRADE

Is a cut up looming between LeBron James and the LA Lakers?

According to Heavyweight.com’s Sean Deveney, a number of NBA groups are “at least preparing for the possibility” the 38-year outdated James will hand in a commerce request subsequent low season.

“According to executives around the league, multiple teams are at least preparing for the possibility that James will seek to force a trade this summer as he, having just turned 38, looks to finish his career in a winning environment,” Deveney wrote.

“And unlike this past off-season, in which teams were blindsided by the trade demand lodged by star forward Kevin Durant on the eve of free agency, front offices around the NBA will be prepared for James’ potential move.”

It comes after a irritating couple of years in LA because the crew has struggled since its 2020 championship run, with its seasons ending in a first-round playoff loss and post-season absence respectively.

Earlier this marketing campaign, the Lakers appeared set to overlook the playoffs once more after a dire 2-10 begin, however they’ve gone 17-11 since together with a present five-game profitable streak to push into play-in territory regardless of Anthony Davis lacking the final 12 contests with a foot harm.

James in motion towards the Kings (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images/AFP)Source: AFP

James, who signed a two-year, $97.1. million extension with LA final low season and has a participant choice for 2024/25, has been crucial in that turnaround.

He’s averaging 29.1 factors, 8.2 rebounds and 6.7 assists this season together with going at 38 factors per sport since turning 38 on December 31 throughout a interval the place LA has gone undefeated.

James lately stated he wasn’t certain how for much longer he plans on enjoying within the NBA for, however admitted enjoying basketball with out profitable isn’t in his DNA.

There’s been ample dialogue as as to if the Lakers might make a transfer for win-now items between now and the February 10 commerce deadline, with James insisting it’s not his job to fret about roster choices.

It’s unclear if James is totally on the identical web page with the organisation, or if he’s certainly weighing up his choices for the longer term.

CAVS EYEING HARDAWAY, BOGDANOVIC

Dallas Mavericks’ Tim Hardaway Jr. and Detroit Pistons’ Bojan Bogdanovic are each on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ radar, based on Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.

Fedor revealed on the Please Don’t Aggregate This podcast with Jake Fischereach gamers are atop the Cavs’ want record, though they face competitors for Bogdanovic with the likes of the Phoenix Suns and LA Lakers.

“Tim Hardaway Jr. is anyone that the Cavs have been watching and so they‘ve been keeping an eye on. And I think if the Cavs had their choice, it would be very very close… If they had their choice, it would be between Bojan and Tim Hardaway Jr,” he said.

A number of teams are circling Bogdanovic (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

The Pistons won’t let the 33-year outdated Croatian go simply although, with Fischer reporting the crew is hoping to get a first-round choose and “either a young player with upside or additional draft capital.”

Fischer additionally revealed {that a} framework of Hardaway for Caris LeVert already exists after the Mavericks tried to amass him from the Brooklyn Nets earlier than he was despatched to the Indiana Pacers.

It comes as Bogdanovic is producing a career-best season for the NBA-worst 11-32 Pistons, averaging 21 factors per sport on 48.6 per cent taking pictures from the sphere and 41.8 per cent from downtown.

Hardaway is in the meantime averaging 13.8 factors per sport For Dallas.

Both gamers can be worthwhile offensive upgrades on the likes of Lamar Stevens and Isaac Okoro on the Cleveland wing so as to add extra scoring punch.