the biggest problem to trading james is the optics to future free agents, you finally got a player of lebron's caliber to sign with you and you trade him away within a year. one ridiculous thing that has been said more than a few times in response to a lebron/davis swap is that lebron would retire, which i dont think anyone truly believes. it means too much to lebron's legacy to continue to add to his career numbers. if he was traded this offseason no matter where, there is zero chance he would retire. having said all that the lakers will try to bolster the roster and give it another run next year. the earliest i could see them dealing him would be pre trade deadline next year and it would be more of a mutual agreement to part ways.