Paul Pierce suggests that the Cavs explore trading Mitchell for James

Paul Pierce, an NBA champion, envisions a potential situation where Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James concludes his career in Cleveland alongside his son Bronny, presenting an intriguing narrative.

According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, it's probable that LeBron James, aged 39, will opt out of his contract with the Lakers but stay with the team. Entering the final week of the regular season, the Lakers currently occupy the ninth seed in the Western Conference.

Maintaining this position would lead to a more challenging path towards contention. Although they successfully navigated the play-in tournament last season, reaching the Western Conference Finals, this time they'll encounter stiffer competition.


Their journey begins with a showdown against the 10th-seeded Golden State Warriors in the play-in opener. Should they triumph over the Warriors, they'll face the loser between the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings in the subsequent round to secure a playoff berth. This playoff bid will pit them against the top seed of the West in the first round.

Mitchell is averaging 26.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.0 assists this season with shooting percentages of 46.3% from the field, 36.8% from beyond the arc, and 86.8% from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, James has season averages of 25.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 8.2 assists, shooting 53.6% from the field, 41.3% from three-point range, and 74.6% from the free-throw line.

With a stellar career record, including 20 All-Star appearances, James holds career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks. He ranks first in NBA history in points, second in field goals, fourth in assists, ninth in steals, fifth in triple-doubles, seventh in points per game, third in player efficiency rating, and eighth in three-point field goals. James is also the sole player in NBA history to secure top-five rankings in both points and assists, and he stands as the only player with over 30,000 points, 10,000 rebounds, and 10,000 career assists.

Should the 27-year-old Mitchell opt against an extension this summer, he will head into the last guaranteed year of his five-year $163 million contract in the following season. Should the Cavaliers decide to make him available, the Lakers are expected to be prominent contenders for his talents.

Source Hoopswire : Paul Pierce Says Cavs Should Try To Trade Donovan Mitchell For LeBron James
Source Heavy : Paul Pierce Sees Lakers Possibly Trading LeBron James for $163 Million All-Star