NBA Trade Deadline Live Updates: Bucks, Wizards Swap Khris Middleton, Kyle Kuzma; Rumors swirling around Kevin Durant

LeBron James was out for dinner when the news in his Los Angeles Lakers had traded for Luka Dončić surprised, according to Espn’s Dave McMenamine. It’s hard to believe James was blindsid by the news when the agent he shares with Anthony Davis, Klutch Sports Ceo Rich Paul was Reported warned to the proposal in the days before an agreement; But it makes sense because this deal is not about James.

This trade was about the possibility of acquiring a 25-year-old multi-year MVP candidate for half the costs.

It wasn’t about this season either. Lakers do not win a championship with James earning 35% of their salary ceiling. It will be an incredible theater for James and Dončić to share the floor together. If Dončić adopts James’ conditioning regime, Lakers will be better for it, but James is 40 years old; He can’t maintain the kind of top two -way benefit they need from his $ 48.7 million for a whole playoffs.

That’s why Lakers must act James now.