Lakers Rumors: The one move that will determine if LA gets LeBron

LeBron James has become the recent subject of Lakers rumors. While James heading to Los Angeles seems inevitable, it all banks on one move by the Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers are in need of their next superstar entering their second year without Kobe Bryant. While Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram are both young stars in their own right, the Lakers lack that true star power. Because of that, there have been so many Lakers rumors around who the Lakers may get next.

Many different stars have been tied to the Los Angeles Lakers. Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins and Jimmy Butler all have been tied to the Lakers. Now, the talk of the league is LeBron James heading to the Lakers, and potentially bringing Russell Westbrook with him.

The idea of LeBron and Westbrook on any team is quite the spectacle. The two both can easily drop a triple-double on any night and together on the same roster would be the best duo in the NBA.

The idea of them teaming up in Los Angeles in the Staples Center is, even more, mind boggling. Arguably the two most polarizing figures in the NBA teaming up in the second largest sports market in the United States.

While this partnership may be a match made in heaven, it would be quite the challenge to secure both guys. The Lakers are opening up around $40 million in cap space next offseason, not enough to afford both guys.

Obviously, the Lakers are going to have to make some trades to make this deal possible. The best case scenario for the Lakers is parting ways with Luol Deng, which makes one trade in particular so critical to obtaining these goals.

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Luckily for the Lakers, they have multiple options available, but they all must follow the same trend. Los Angeles must package Julius Randle and Deng in a deal, and if they don’t, they may never get to fulfill their pipe dreams of obtaining LeBron.

Los Angeles can package the two for Greg Monroe, Dwayne Wade or could even send them to Utah in exchange for Derrick Favors and Joe Johnson. Regardless, this deal must happen, or else the Lakers will not get James.

This would give the Lakers over $60 million in cap space next offseason, more than enough for both Westbrook and James. While they would not sign max deals, they both can sign for $30 million, thus making the Lakers the championship favorites.

If Los Angeles cannot free up space for another star it is hard seeing James come to LA. While a Lonzo Ball Lebron James partnership would be intriguing, that likely is not enough for James. He is chasing the legacy of one man, Michael Jordan and heading to a rebuilding Lakers team will not get him anywhere.

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Regardless, getting rid of Luol Deng is crucial, so trading Julius Randle may be the only way the Lakers can even get LeBron. As sad as it would be to see Randle go, I would expect it this season with all of the latest Lakers rumors.