NBA Trade Rumors: LeBron James Next Superteam Stop is LA Lakers or Houston Rockets?

By Erik Pineda
LeBron James
Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter in game two of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena.  Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA Superteam benchmark remains the Golden State Warriors and superstars still in pursuit of the NBA ring are racing to join the next best title contender team. In Carmelo Anthony's case, it's either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Houston Rockets. Now whichever team Melo ends up with, will LeBron James be part of the lineup?

For Season 2017-18 James will certainly remain with the Cavs and rumors have it he might be bringing in his good buddy Anthony by way of a buyout from the New York Knicks. But that appears to be out of the question now as reports came out the Knicks small forward could be headed soon to Houston. Bleacher Report said the Rockets are looking to build a Big Three arsenal that will consist of Chris Paul and James Harden.

Harden just inked a four-year extension with the Rockets front team and Paul is a fresh acquisition from the Los Angeles Clippers. One more big name and Houston could easily sling its way to the top and send notice the Rockets are to watch for when the NBA slugfest resumes. The same report claimed Melo is on top of the list and team executives from both sides are reportedly on discussion mode.

On Houston's part, the chief concern is to clear salary cap issues, specifically how to deal with a $14.5 million excess to make way for the estimated $26.2 million pay by Anthony. If Rockets executives can sort the problem out, Melo jumping to Houston appears a non-issue to the 33-year-old veteran.

Bleacher Report said Anthony is ready to waive his no-trade clause if the Knicks would just formally inform they'd put him on the trading block. He'd just play ball, and why not as the Rockets with Paul and Harden as co-headliners could be the former NBA scoring champion's ticket for that elusive ring.

And surely the chances of Anthony winning an NBA title will only get better if King James will be on board. But the question is: Will LeBron consider the Rockets uniform come his free agency status on July 2018?

One thing is sure though - if James will exit Cleveland anew his destination has to be a winning team and speculations are rife he's more inclined to play with the Lakers for the balance of his playing years. Sure, Houston with Harden, Paul and likely Anthony on the lineup have become and exciting prospect for King James but the Lakers are nothing short of interesting.

Magic Johnson is in charge of rebuilding the team and James might be interested to be in the middle of everything, and collaborate with the NBA icon. And the chance of winning James will surely increase, more so with the Lakers having a fresh talent in Lonzo Ball.

And Ball plus King James is just the right formula for more multiple NBA titles. As the flamboyant LaVar Ball, father to Lonzo, said in an ESPN report: "Lonzo and LeBron? Come on, man! That's real deal." It's only expected that a Lakers Superteam with Ball and James on it, with the possibility of having Paul George too, will win championships, the elder Ball added.

But it's a dream that will have to wait next year. And there is no assurance that the next NBA Superteam stop of LeBron James will somewhere in Los Angeles.

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