One of the best basketball players to ever set foot on a court, LeBron James is seemingly in the twilight of his career. But that doesn’t mean the man’s drive and ambition are gone. And, to be fair, the talent is still there, too. Despite being 40 years old, LeBron is still a top player in the NBA. Which is why he isn’t too happy about being seemingly displaced in LA.
During last year’s NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers made headlines when they seemingly fleeced star guard Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Anthony Davis, a move that drew a lot of criticism from both pundits and Mavs fans. And now, judging by reports, it looks like the Lakers are going to build their team around Luka. As for LeBron? As far as the Lakers are concerned, he might be yesterday’s news.
A few months after the shocking trade, LeBron’s agent, Rich Jones, made a statement regarding the 4-time league MVP. “We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career,” Jones said. Mind you, this came on the heels of LeBron picking up his $52.6 million option to remain in Los Angeles for one more year. But, judging from that statement, that doesn’t sound like a player who’s anticipating staying where he is.
Now, according to ESPN, some execs feel it’s just LeBron attempting to put pressure on Los Angeles to build for an immediate NBA Championship push. But if the two sides can’t agree on the short-term goals, then it’s likely to end up in a trade scenario where LeBron moves to greener pastures. But where can he feasibly go?
We fired up NBA 2K25, opened up MyGM mode, and used the trade finder to see.
Where Can LeBron James End Up In NBA 2K25?
Immediately upon beginning a MyGM save, I got the alert that LeBron James was planning on retiring, and that we’d be able to do a retirement tour. Needlessly to say, I skipped all of that, went into the Trade Finder, and found some suitors.
In total, I had about 8 offers. But the one that stood out the most was this one from the Phoenix Suns:
The Phoenix Suns receive:
- LeBron James
- Markieff Morris
The Los Angeles Lakers receive:
- Devin Booker
- Ryan Dunn
Now, I’ll be up front: LeBron spending his last season in Arizona on a team that missed the playoffs last season might not sound realistic. But, the Lakers are going to want something for him, and Devin Booker and a promising forward in Ryan Dunn could be the sauce needed to get the deal over the line.
Now, if he is indeed traded in real life, LeBron will likely want to go to a big market and a contender at that, seeing as the crux of his issue is wanting to go out with another trophy. But what big market teams are willing to part ways with a top player right in exchange for giving LeBron a swan song? Surely, the New York Knicks aren’t among them. I doubt the Celtics are all that interested, as well.
So, it’s stay in LA and see what you can do, or spend your last season in obscurity in my eyes.
