LeBron James is Putting More Pressure on the Front Office as the Lakers Win More Games

The Lakers have won five straight at a time when the rest of the conference is slumping. The Suns and Clippers have both lost six straight. The Jazz are sliding, the Blazers with them. as a result, the Lakers aren't just in contact with the play-in, they're creeping up on the real live playoff teams. Just a couple games back of the five spot.

That's a ton of unexpected progress at a time when, with Anthony Davis (and more!) on the sidelines, the Lakers just weren't thought of as a competitive team.

Yet here we are! And with that, LeBron James is cranking up the heat on the team's front office to kick it into high gear and make some trades to help improve the roster. Not later, not next season, now. In a walk-and-talk following Saturday's win over Sacramento with The Athletic's Sam Amick, LeBron said without saying that he thinks the front office should make a move. Sunday on Twitter, he tried to dial it back, but even a generous reading of the conversation (printed in full at The Athletic, and recreated on this podcast!) makes it pretty clear what James wants.

And of course he does! LeBron likes LA, and so does his family. He doesn't want to leave them, and they're not going anywhere. Meanwhile, he wants to play meaningful basketball as his career eventually winds down. The easiest way to make both of those things happen is for the Lakers to go all in. He even made it clear that while he wants to play with Bronny James should his son enter the NBA while LeBron is still in it, that doesn't mean they have to be on the same team. Sure, that would be great, preferable even, but just facing off against his son on an NBA court would do the trick.

That tells the Lakers it's safe to make trades, because I'm not just jumping ship in a year to play with my kid, wherever he ends up.

But with that in mind, is there a blockbuster type deal with those two first rounders available to make? Would a smaller deal for Detroit's Alec Burks (whether literally, or someone at his level) be enough to make a difference in this team's fortunes? Who is out there to be had?

HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky

SEGMENT 1: The Lakers keep winning, improbably for sure, and gaining ground on a slumping Western Conference.

SEGMENT 2: LeBron widens the parameters of what "playing with Bronny" means. Why it matters, a lot.

SEGMENT 3: LeBron raises the temperature on the front office.

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