If the Los Angeles Lakers decide to part ways with LeBron James midseason, multiple NBA insiders believe there’s one clear destination that makes the most sense: the New York Knicks.
During a recent episode of *The Kevin O’Connor Show*, Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor and ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks discussed the growing speculation surrounding James’ future and identified the Knicks as the most “plausible” landing spot should the Lakers move their superstar before the trade deadline.
“Yeah, I’d say the Knicks for sure,” O’Connor said. “I’d say Knicks number one and then everybody else. If he were to be traded midseason, the Knicks make sense for salary purposes, for roster fit purposes, for what they could desire — what they feel like they might need to take a leap.”
### Bobby Marks: Knicks ‘Have the Contracts’
Marks broke down several possible outcomes for the 40-year-old forward’s future, explaining how financial restrictions would shape the trade landscape.
“If [LeBron] ever said, ‘I want to be bought out,’ we basically eliminate all the apron teams,” Marks explained. “So we eliminate the Clevelands and the Dallas’s and the Golden States and New York and that whole contingent.”
However, Marks quickly clarified that in a straight trade scenario, New York rises to the top.
“If it were a straight trade, I think we can eliminate Cleveland. I think Dallas would probably be eliminated too — they’d have to gut it for LeBron,” Marks continued. “You always think New York, potentially. They have the contracts, the big [Karl-Anthony] Towns number, or OG [Anunoby]-[Mikal] Bridges combo, whatever it might be. That group, I think, would probably lean back toward New York.”
### LeBron’s Madison Square Garden Connection Adds Intrigue
O’Connor emphasized that the fit isn’t just about cap flexibility — it’s also about legacy.
“It’s Madison Square Garden,” O’Connor said. “LeBron’s always called it his favorite arena. He could be a quote-unquote savior if he helps take them to a championship for the first time in decades.”
James’ long-standing admiration for New York City and the Knicks’ iconic venue has been well-documented throughout his career. In early 2024, James admitted that he seriously considered signing with New York during his 2010 free agency.
A trade to the Knicks would represent a full-circle moment — a late-career chapter where the four-time MVP could chase one final championship while rejuvenating the NBA’s most starved franchise.
### Potentially Bigger than Luka Trade
If such a deal were to happen, O’Connor said it would be the biggest trade in NBA history, even eclipsing the blockbuster move that sent Luka Dončić to Los Angeles last year.
“Can you imagine that? LeBron James traded midseason to the New York Knicks,” O’Connor said. “Talk about breaking social media if Shams [Charania] drops that bomb, it might even exceed the Luka trade last year.”
### Lakers Face Uncertain Future as LeBron Nears 41
While insiders like O’Connor and Marks see New York as the most logical landing spot, oddsmakers aren’t convinced. According to Bovada, the Knicks currently hold the fourth-best odds (+550) to land James if he’s traded.
The Dallas Mavericks (-120) remain the betting favorite, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers (+350), James’ former team, and the Golden State Warriors (+450). The Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns round out the top six at +900 each.
Now entering the final year of his contract, James’ future in Los Angeles remains clouded. The 40-year-old superstar is currently sidelined with sciatica and expected to miss three to four weeks, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
“LeBron’s gonna be watching while he’s out,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin said on *NBA Today*. “If they’re struggling, that could lead to the next step — maybe he’s gonna have to go elsewhere to find that winning combination.”
### What a Knicks Move Would Mean for LeBron’s Legacy
For LeBron, joining the Knicks would be more than a basketball decision — it would be a legacy-defining gamble. If he were to lead New York to its first NBA title since 1973, it could cement his status as the league’s ultimate franchise savior.
As trade speculation swirls and Bovada’s odds shift week to week, one thing is clear: the LeBron-to-New York storyline has moved from fantasy to feasible talking point. And if it ever happens, as O’Connor put it, it wouldn’t just dominate the headlines — it would “break social media.”
https://heavy.com/sports/nba/new-york-knicks/lebron-trade-fit-2/
