Its anybody’s guess whether LeBron James really wants to play for the Los Angeles Lakers next season or if he has little other choice. To this point, it seems like it more of the latter. Indeed, given the unfavorable logistics of completing a trade for James, the four-time NBA MVP appears set to begin the 2025-26 season with the Lakers.
But what if he didn’t have to?
What if there was some team out there with the means and motivation to make the biggest trade of the 2025 NBA offseason? What if the Miami Heat were to trade for James, who led them to back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013?
HEAT Are The Right Partner For Lakers-LeBron James Trade
Here’s the trade:
Heat receive — LeBron James, Bronny James (LeBron James Jr.), 2032 second-round pick
Lakers receive — Norman Powell, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Pelle Larsson, Terry Rozier
Due to league rules, the transaction couldn’t be completed until Sep. 7, as Heat wing Norman Powell “cannot be traded to a team aggregated with other players from his team because 2 months have not passed since he was traded for” (h/t Fanspo). With that in mind, Miami officially completed their trade for Powell on July 7.
Norman Powell
Powell is exactly the type of player that fits Heat culture. In terms of his intangibles, he’s a mature and confident warrior. Though he’s not the most explosive athlete, his physical conditioning isn’t in question. While he’s capable of scoring in volume, he takes pride in his defense.
However, he has just one year remaining on his contract and he’s 32 years old. Theoretically, he’s on the verge of declining, as many players do in their early 30s. Thus, if the biggest obstacle in a trade for James is whether to move Powell, it’s worth noting that he’s probably expendable.
The Youngsters
Meanwhile, though the Heat like both Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson, neither have proven that they’re starters in the NBA. So despite the 24-year-olds’ potential, Miami shouldn’t get hung up on moving them either. That’s particularly true with them getting Lakers guard Bronny James back in the trade.
Frankly, the younger James has shown nice offensive flashes but is already capable of playing NBA-level defense. This is also the case for Larsson. Yet, the inverse is true for Jaquez, who finds it easier to make an impact on the scoreboard than to stop his defensive assignment from doing the same.
Terry Rozier
Then there’s Heat guard Terry Rozier, who is currently embroiled in legal drama due to a betting scandal. Even if Rozier’s name is cleared, he’s played so poorly the past two seasons that it’s possible he wouldn’t break into the Lakers rotation. Thus, he’s more or less salary-filler that’s on an expiring contract.
Why They Make The Trade
Ultimately, in this transaction, James Jr.’s value will be similar to Larsson’s. Meanwhile, James’s will be close to that of Powell and Jaquez. Rozier is a confounding variable and it’s unclear whether he’ll benefit Los Angeles or Miami more following a trade.
The Heat receiving a future second-rounder should help offset any misgivings about them trading for a player (James) that’s eight years Powell’s senior, giving up two young players (Jaquez Jr., Larsson) for one (James Jr.) and moving a potentially useful player in Rozier.
It may not be the ideal deal. The Heat would be sacrificing depth and youth. The Lakers would be left without one of the greatest players in NBA history. However, for where both teams are right now, it could turn out perfectly.
Miami, dying to get over the hump, now have a superstar who has been the best player in four NBA title runs. L.A., ready to rally behind 26-year-old Luka Doncic, gets younger and deeper. They also add a player who could be a better fit in a Doncic-led first unit than James; an All-Star caliber wing that excels as an off-ball shooter and on-ball defender.
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