"LeBron selling tickets for you" - Stephen A. Smith pitches Lakers to trade LeBron James to Knicks

The LA Lakers and LeBron James are just one game away from being eliminated in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. While the team is playing the defending champions in the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers' internal struggles seem to be a major contributing factor to their struggles. In each of the team's three recent losses, they've held leads in excess of 10 points.

In all three of the cases, LeBron James and the LA Lakers blew those leads, allowing the Nuggets to win three straight. Considering the fact that the Lakers were also swept by the Denver Nuggets last season in the playoffs, Stephen A. Smith believes that the team should consider shaking things up.

Speaking on Saturday on a new episode of his Stephen A. Smith Show, the longtime TV personality shared his thoughts.

"But is it possible, and is it plausible when you got a team like the New York Knicks with eleven picks over the next seven years, that you go to them and you say, you know what? We don't mind. You want LeBron at the guard and give us a couple of first round picks and a player?

"If you're the Los Angeles Lakers, you might want to consider it because LeBron James selling seats for you and tickets for you, that's cool. But what good is it if you're going to be going home in the first round?"

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Looking at LeBron James' future with the LA Lakers amid recent struggles

Heading into the postseason there was quite a bit of talk regarding whether LeBron James would opt-in to his final year with the LA Lakers. While the deal would see him earn $51.4 million for the 2024-25 season, he could decide to opt-out and go play elsewhere.

Throughout the season, James' future with the Lakers has been a hot topic given the team's inconsistency. While he and the Lakers looked like true contenders at points throughout the season, making it all the way to the finals of the NBA In-Season Tournament, they also struggled.

To end the season LeBron James and the Lakers fought to pull themselves out of tenth place, raising concerns about their chances in the playoffs.

Once the team battled their way through the play-in tournament, they found themselves matched up with the Denver Nuggets in the first round.

This immediately signaled concern around the league, with fans and analysts questioning if the Lakers were capable of defeating Denver. Now, with the team down 3-0 following three blown leads, many are wondering if this is the end of King James' time in LA.

With his son, Bronny James, expected to be drafted this offseason, the stars could be aligning for the four-time NBA champ to join his son on another team.

Although they have yet to be eliminated from the postseason, with hope dwindling, many can't help but wonder what this offseason will bring.