Could LeBron James finally be destined to play in New York City?

During Saturday's episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith cast doubt on the Los Angeles Lakers plans to contend in a loaded Western Conference and extended the possibility of trading James to a team like the New York Knicks.

"You have a team like the New York Knicks that has 11 picks over the next seven years," Smith said. "You go to them and you say 'You know what, we don't mind. You want LeBron at the Garden? Give us a couple of first-round picks and a player. If you are the Los Angeles Lakers, you may want to consider it."

Los Angeles is currently in dire straits, trailing the Denver Nuggets 3-0 in the first round. The Lakers have dropped 11 consecutive games to Denver, including every regular season matchup this year and the Western Conference Finals from the 2022-23 season.

The current roster's inability to beat Denver, combined with other rising teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and New Orleans Pelicans looming large in the conference, serves as a reason why Smith believes it would be best for the Lakers to recoup assets and give James a chance to contend for another title.

He would join a Knicks team that earned the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference in 2023-24 and is hoping to advance past the second round for the first time since 1999-2000. The franchise was also a true suitor for James in 2010 and LeBron even grabbed a Knicks towel after a game earlier this year.

James has a player option for 2024-25, so he could potentially hit free agency following the current season.