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Los Angeles Lakers 21-time All-NBA superstar power forward LeBron James has yet to make his 2025-26 regular season debut. The 40-year-old former four-time MVP is on the shelf indefinitely with a right-side sciatica injury, which has apparently been afflicting him since the summer. In his absence, Lakers guard Austin Reaves appears to have stepped into the void to become a true second option for five-time All-NBA guard Luka Doncic. Through his first five games with the 3-2 Lakers this year, the 6-foot-5 Oklahoma product is averaging an awesome 34.2 points on .525/.385/.897 shooting splits, 10.0 assists, 5.6 boards and 1.8 swipes a night. It’s unlikely he’ll finish the season with this kind of heady production, but it’s also clear that Reaves appears to have reached a new level of ability this year. More news: Lakers’ LeBron James Announces Exciting Personal News Reaves, 27, seems likely to decline his $14.9 million player option for 2026-27 next summer and reach unrestricted free agency. Should he stay healthy and continue this heady play, he’s likely to fetch a near-maximum new deal. Where does that leave LeBron James, who’ll also be an unrestricted free agent next summer? Reaves’ timeline as a player aligns better with that of the 26-year-old Doncic. If Reaves can truly be this tier of scorer and passer — his new Kyrie Irving — re-signing him needs to be the priority for LA, even over James. EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers speaks with the media during Los Angeles Lakers Media Day at UCLA Health Training Center on September 29, 2025 in El Segundo, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) That’s not to say James is chopped liver, even 23 years into his pro career. But would the Lakers and James opt for a divorce, rather than find themselves making painful decisions over the summer? Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposes a surprising deal that would send James to join another rising young All-Star, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. Swartz was struck by the 7-foot-5 big man’s encouraging output in the first game of the team’s season, a 125-92 annihilation of the Lone Star State with which James has most often been linked, the Dallas Mavericks. “Are we sure Victor Wembanyama isn’t a top-2 player in the NBA right now?” Swartz wonders “Wembanyama is ready to win now, and the Spurs should be doing everything in their power to help him do so. This includes sniffing around a LeBron James trade, a player who’s long had a great relationship with Gregg Popovich.” More news: NBA Announces Huge Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo News Popovich was forced to step back from head coaching duties after suffering a stroke early into the 2024-25 season, but continues to oversee team operations as San Antonio’s team president. “There’s no shortage of advantages when it comes to pairing James and Wembanyama, whether it be on-court production, practice habits, strength training or learning the opponent’s every move,” Swartz writes. “A core of Wembanyama, James, De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper and others could make a deep playoff run this year.” James possesses a no-trade clause, meaning he can dictate where he would be traded. The Spurs do have plenty of tantalizing young assets who could hold value to the Lakers in a trade (although their best young pieces are in the backcourt, where Los Angeles is suddenly stacked). In theory, the fit would be something special. But given James’ age (he’s 19 years older than Wembanyama), injury history and cost, would it make sense for the Spurs to obtain him? More news: NBA Announces Historic Austin Reaves News Ahead of Lakers’ NBA Cup Game For all the latest NBA news and rumors, head over to Newsweek Sports.
