LeBron James Reportedly Advocated for Lakers to Pursue Dejounte Murray or Zach LaVine Ahead of Trade Deadline

According to sources cited by Sam Amick, Anthony Slater, and Jovan Buha, LeBron James purportedly expressed interest in the Los Angeles Lakers acquiring either Dejounte Murray or Zach LaVine, both clients of Klutch Sports, leading up to the trade deadline on February 8.

While the Lakers were linked to trade discussions involving both players, they reportedly hesitated due to concerns over LaVine’s hefty contract. Despite James’ endorsement, the Lakers opted against making any major roster changes.

Both LaVine and Murray currently play for teams with middling performances in the 2023-24 regular season. The Chicago Bulls sit at the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 26-28, closely followed by the Atlanta Hawks in the tenth seed.

Meanwhile, the Lakers have faced their own challenges, struggling to find consistency with a 29-26 record, placing them at the ninth seed in the competitive Western Conference.

However, since the trade deadline, the Lakers have demonstrated improvement, securing convincing victories against the New Orleans Pelicans and the Detroit Pistons. Notably, their win against the Pelicans, a team with a superior record, underscores their potential for success.

Despite recent success, the Lakers remain focused on climbing the standings in the Western Conference. With only three-and-a-half games behind the Phoenix Suns for the fifth seed, the team aims to secure a higher position in the playoffs.

As the Lakers prepare for upcoming road games against formidable opponents like the Utah Jazz and the Golden State Warriors, their ability to maintain momentum will be closely observed. Fans eagerly anticipate whether the team can overcome these challenges and continue their ascent in the standings.