LeBron to the Lakers?

The latest rumor causing an uproar is that LeBron James has his eyes on becoming a member of the Los Angeles Lakers. Never mind that such talk enters into a murky region called “tampering.” James, after all, is currently a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers − at least until the season ends. The cause of all the ruckus is the rumor that James has discreetly spoken to people about becoming a member of the Lakers.

A Yahoo.com article laid it all out, but it is a scenario fans in Los Angeles have seen before: big name players often are able to control their own destiny. The Lakers landed center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar when he demanded that the Milwaukee Bucks trade him to either New York or Los Angeles. The intelligent and sensitive Jabbar allegedly felt that Milwaukee was backward culturally. Because his contract had ended, the Bucks had no choice but to accede to his demand. The Lakers offered the best package so Jabbar was shipped to the Lakers. More recently, Shaquille O’Neal opted to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent in 1996 claiming he had been insulted by the Orlando Magic. The real reasons may have been partly provincial − Orlando, like Milwaukee, was too small for such a big man and the lights of Los Angeles included Hollywood and myriad more opportunities to sell oneself − and partly a dissatisfaction with being number two (to teammate Penny Hardaway) in that small market.

The Yahoo article laid it out like this: James can force the Cavs to trade him to the Lakers by telling the team he will not return to Cleveland and will sign with another team if they do not agree to trade him. The Lakers could offer Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, and others not to mention possible future draft picks and cash. While this would never replace James, it is better than losing him for nothing.

And what about Kobe Bryant, the Lakers current star? He has gotten to know James and the two are friendly. He would have no problem passing the torch to James, the article suggested.

However, other rumors have focused on the fact that despite talk that a signing is imminent, Kobe has yet to sign a contract extension with the Lakers. There is some talk that Bryant might opt out this summer, too, in order to get more money than a straight up extension.

The monkey wrench to all these plans is that the Lakers are seriously capped out. They currently have the league’s largest payroll, one that owner Jerry Buss supposedly wants to pare down a bit. But Buss is also known as a gambler and someone who likes the spotlight. Would he roll the dice to try to obtain LeBron James? You bet he would.

But with tighter money days -- and possibly a hard salary cap (as opposed to the soft one now in place) -- coming to the NBA (along with a possible walkout/lockout as the players and owners haggle over a new CBA), the window of opportunity is small and tight for the Lakers to scoop up James. Former Laker star turned team president Jerry West came precariously close to destroying his health gambling that he could sign Shaq back in 1996, trading away essentially every good player the team had to create salary space. West’s hand-picked successor Mitch Kupchak might find himself entering the same treacherous waters this summer.

But the payoff would be huge. Everyone has been focused on James going to New York and the Knicks. But the Knicks are an awful team and James, despite his court brilliance, would need some help to win a title there. The Lakers, on the other hand, would be immediate favorites to win the NBA title with James, even if Kobe had fled the coop.

It’s a gamble worth taking − if the rumors are true.