While NBA player reunions aren’t as common as many think, they can occur under ideal circumstances.
A Los Angeles Lakers superstar could reunite with the Miami Heat this season in a blockbuster trade that could benefit both parties.
On Wednesday, Athlon Sports’ Sean Deveney crafted a compelling trade proposal that would send LeBron and Bronny James to the Heat for Jimmy Butler and Alec Burks.
James, averaging 23.0 points, 9.1 assists, and 8.0 rebounds with the Lakers this season, spent four seasons in Miami in the early 2010s after dramatically departing from the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The 2008 scoring champion won two championships alongside Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, solidifying himself as a winning superstar in the NBA.
The idea of James returning to his second NBA home is intriguing, considering the 20-time All-Star is familiar with the Heat’s culture and head coach Erik Spoelstra’s determination to maximize each player’s potential.
Likewise, It would be interesting to see how Butler would manage under JJ Redick in Los Angeles.
However, based on a recent statement by a Western Conference executive, the chances of witnessing a James and Butler swap this season are likely below 50%.
“The only way to get (Jimmy) Butler to the Lakers is to trade about half the Lakers roster, and they don’t have the stomach for that,” the executive said.
“Either side. But if the Lakers really want to trade LeBron, if that is something they want to do, Miami would be one of the spots they’d have to consider. I think the Lakers would want something more than just Jimmy but it’s hard to make that work.”
Don’t expect the Lakers and Heat to complete a mind-blowing deal this season.
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