LeBron James has dominated the NBA rumor mill over the last week. With his relationship crumbling with the Los Angeles Lakers, a lot of trade speculation has come up with his name attached.
While it’s possible that James and the Lakers could part ways, finding the right partner in trade talks could prove to be difficult.
Acquiring James would not be cheap for whoever pursues the option. Los Angeles won’t give him up for free and James is playing on a one-year deal worth just over $52.6 million. There aren’t many teams that could come up with a deal that makes sense for both sides.
That being said, one analyst has taken a look at the five best potential destinations for James.
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Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale has suggested the New York Knicks as one of those top five destinations.
“New York will fill its second ball-handler box by adding Jordan Clarkson. That’s no reason to pass on LeBron, who remains a top-tier offensive player. The one-two punch between him and Jalen Brunson would be bonkers, alleviating the workload on not only the latter, but Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby as well,” Favale wrote.
He also hinted at Karl-Anthony Towns being the centerpiece of a trade with the Lakers for James.
“Adding Guerschon Yabusele and having Mitchell Robinson positions the Knicks to get by at center without Towns while still maintaining five-out whimsy in certain lineups. They might even appreciate the extra flexibility LeBron’s expiring contract affords, particularly as Bridges gets more expensive after this season.”
James heading to the Knicks would shake the landscape of the NBA. New York made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season before being defeated by the Indiana Pacers in six games.
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Mike Brown has taken over as the team’s head coach to replace Tom Thibodeau. Adding a player like James in place of Towns could be the move that powers New York into the NBA Finals.
It’s not likely that the Knicks will make a move for James. However, it cannot be counted out.
At the very least, New York has made the cut as one of the perceived top fits for LeBron should he leave Los Angeles. Fans will simply have to wait and see what the future has in store for James.
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