A new ESPN report reveals an unexpected chapter in Los Angeles Lakers history: former controlling owner Jeanie Buss once considered trading LeBron James — and the Los Angeles Clippers were floated as a possible destination. The discussion reportedly happened in 2022, after a turbulent period in Lakers decision-making. Buss ultimately didn’t pull the trigger, but the revelation shows just how far internal thinking once drifted.
LeBron joined the Lakers in 2018, ending a free-agency chase and helping bring a 2020 NBA title to Los Angeles. Over the years, he became one of the most influential figures in franchise history. Yet according to insiders, Buss eventually grew resentful of how the narrative developed around his tenure.
Friction After Westbrook Trade Fueled Tension
The tension reportedly intensified after the Russell Westbrook trade in 2021. That deal, made in part to satisfy LeBron’s preferences, did not deliver the expected results. The Lakers missed the playoffs that season, and Buss reportedly “bristled” at what she saw as LeBron’s “lack of accountability” regarding how that roster experiment unfolded.
Sources say that in the fallout, Buss privately discussed several options, including not offering LeBron a contract extension and even exploring a trade away from the Lakers, with the Clippers mentioned as a possible landing spot. While this talk never turned into a formal offer or negotiation, the idea alone stunned many around the league.
Other Sources Point to Strained Relations
Additional reporting suggests that Buss’s frustration didn’t end with the Westbrook saga. When the Lakers drafted LeBron’s son, Bronny James, in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, Buss reportedly expected more gratitude for the move. She privately felt that LeBron didn’t express enough appreciation for what she saw as a significant gesture by the organization.
That kind of sentiment adds context to why a trade idea was even floated. Today, LeBron is in his eighth season with the Lakers, one of the longest tenures of his career. He remains a central figure at 41 years old, putting up strong numbers and anchoring the team’s offense.
