Would the Lakers truly consider trading LeBron James? (AP) When ESPN analyst and former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy suggested that the Lakers consider trading LeBron James, much of the sports world scoffed. According to Bleacher Report, he wasn’t the first to consider the idea. Report: Buss wanted to cut ties with Rich Paul Ric Bucher reported on Thursday that the drama around Anthony Davis trade talk at the deadline, plus the leaks believed by some to have come from James’ agent Rich Paul, so infuriated Lakers controlling owner Jeanie Buss that the idea of trading James “crossed (her) mind.” From Bucher’s report. “Paul denied to B/R that he leaked the Lakers' interest in Davis, but Buss suspected otherwise and was furious. The idea of terminating the franchise's relationship with Paul by moving James at least crossed Buss' mind, the team source said, and Paul was made aware of that.” Did Rich Paul infuriate Jeanie Buss so much that she considered trading LeBron James? (AP) Davis trade talks left Lakers a mess Of course the idea of trading away the cornerstone upon which all Lakers hopes are built because of anger with his agent is absurd. That the thought would have crossed her mind is also believable. The idea of Buss getting so fed up with the failed Davis talks that it would prompt irrational thoughts is not beyond the pale. Buss reportedly resorted to blaming the media in the ugly aftermath of the failed trade, relying on fake news taunts to deflect the reports that the Lakers were basically offering everyone not named LeBron in talks for Anthony Davis. The Lakers have since gone into full tank mode, with talk of resting James while not rushing Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram back from injury. Is it that absurd? While the idea of trading James out of spite for Paul is absurd — likely the same conclusion Buss eventually reached if the thought did indeed cross her mind — the thought of trading James is not. James is officially aging and appears to finally be on a physical decline, if even a slight one. If some contending team blew them away with an offer that included premium young talent, the Lakers would be foolish not to consider it. Story continues But those offers are not likely to come. The price would be too high to pay for a player who will be 35 next season. So we’ll all get to watch the drama unfold once again in the offseason, when a LeBron James-led Lakers team that missed the playoffs tries to pick up the pieces and build a contender. More from Yahoo Sports:<doc-sep>NBA rumors: LeBron James trade was contemplated by Lakers owner Jeanie Buss originally appeared on nbcsportsbayarea.com There's drama, and then there's drama with LeBron James on the Lakers. There's rumors, and then there's this: Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher states a team source says Lakers owner Jeanie Buss contemplated trading LeBron James to terminate the team's relationship with agent Rich Paul because of mishandling of trade talks with the Pelicans and Anthony Davis. This comes less than a week after ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy suggested the Lakers should trade James. In Bucher's piece, however, his source told him the idea was on Buss' mind weeks before Van Gundy said the team should explore the move while broadcasting a Celtics-Lakers game. Let's take a step back. The Lakers' season has been a disaster this year. That's certainly true. LeBron has had his faults and distractions to start his Lakers tenure. Also true. While both statements ring true, what's most clear is the team is not going to trade LeBron James. They're not. The Lakers go into Thursday as the No. 11 seed in the Western Conference with a 31-36 record. When they signed LeBron this past offseason, their sights were set on taking down the Warriors and hanging another championship banner in the Staples Center. Now, there's virtually no shot of them even making the playoffs. But nobody envisioned a 34-year-old James to finally go down to a tough injury. Or half of the Lakers roster to miss significant time. The Lakers haven't just been bitten by an injury bug, but chewed, swallowed and spit out by a Black Bear. When James suffered a groin injury on Christmas Day in the Lakers' 127-101 win over the Warriors, Los Angeles was the No. 6 seed in the West with a 20-14 record. LeBron then missed 17 games, with the Lakers going 6-11. [RELATED: Steph Curry's 31st birthday provides Warriors star a chance to reflect] The Lakers' season spiraled in James' absence and they never recovered. You don't trade one of the greatest players of all time because of a tough start, and you definitely don't to be petty. Well, actually that happens all too often, but it won't be happening in Hollywood. Once again though, there's drama, and then there's LeBron on the Lakers.<doc-sep>
ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy created a stir this month when he said the Lakers should consider trading LeBron James. "To me, it could be a trade for an Anthony Davis, or I think they need to explore trading LeBron for getting as much as they can," the former head coach said during the Lakers-Celtics' March 9 game. Van Gundy's comments were, unsurprisingly, widely mocked; however, a recent article by Bleacher Report suggests his take wasn't too far-fetched. Sources told writer Ric Bucher that Lakers owner Jeanie Buss contemplated trading James in an effort to sever ties with Rich Paul, James' good friend and longtime agent. Buss reportedly accused Paul of sabotaging trade talks with the Pelicans and All-Star Anthony Davis, whom Paul also represents. Per Bleacher Report: The subject of moving James, however, was contemplated by the Lakers, a team source said, weeks before Van Gundy aired it. When rumors engulfed the team at the February trade deadline that it was willing to trade anyone other than James to acquire All-Star forward Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans, James’ agent, Rich Paul, was widely accused of spreading those rumors because Davis is also one of his clients. Paul told the outlet he did not leak the details of the Davis trade-talks, and even reached out to Buss to clear the air—efforts that seemingly paid off as LeBron remains on the Lakers' roster. As for the team's reported attempts to acquire Davis? NBC Sports reports it's unlikely to happen. "I have been told that there's no way Anthony Davis is coming here, through the Pelicans," Marc J. Spears said while filming for ESPN in Los Angeles. "They're just not going to do it."