“It felt damn good to play…It felt great to play meaningful basketball.” Literally play at the highest level. We had two sevens games in a row. Once against Serbia and then the last one against France where it was like, “Oh, shit.” That’s why those text messages were sent. This is why these calls happen. You know that fire and that desire came back in me, that I said, “Okay, this is what this was about.” So we all got together and called ourselves the Avengers. So having that feeling again when you play meaningfully and genuinely, every possession means something, when you make a mistake it burns you, things like that. It felt good to relive that moment.”

That was LeBron James, before this season ended, talking about the energy he brought with him from the Paris Olympics. where he won gold and was deservedly named MVP of the tournament.

The 13-11 Lakers aren’t playing for stakes like that. LeBron had to sit out his first game of the season on Sunday night – the Lakers beat the struggling Trail Blazers without him – but his Lakers are the No. 8 seed in the crowded and deep West. These Lakers have the 26th-ranked defense in the league, making them more likely to be fighting for a playoff exit than a title.

That makes other teams wonder if LeBron might push for a trade. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on the Hoop Collective podcast.

“I’d be lying if I said there haven’t been conversations around the league about, ‘Would LeBron think about it again at some point this year?’ Because you remember last year at the trade deadline the Warriors called.”

At that point, the Lakers reportedly went to LeBron and asked him if he wanted such a trade and he said no. He wanted to remain a Laker and live with his family in Los Angeles.

There are some reasons to believe the answer would be the same now.

Does anyone think LeBron will give up working with Bronny James? Will LeBron say, “That was fun, son, but you’re on your own, I’m choosing Stephen Curry.” That’s not how fatherhood works.

LeBron could demand that Bronny be included in any trade, but that brings us to the second problem: the complexity of trading LeBron anywhere, especially with the Warriors. Both teams are in tight financial situations due to the luxury tax and apron restrictions, and the Lakers have no reason to tank. Windhorst agreed to it.

“But I just want to say a few things. First of all, any Warriors trade will be complicated. (The Warriors) only have $500,000 more to spend this season. It’s about the first/second philandering – I know it’s boring. With every trade they make, they really can’t accept any more money. Guess what? The Lakers are not allowed to accept any money because they are in the frontcourt. So it’s possible if LeBron wanted it. Additionally, LeBron has a no-trade clause. Additionally, the Lakers do not own their first-round pick. It goes unprotected to the Atlanta Hawks.”

Finally, there’s the obvious (something else Windhorst addressed): LeBron had chances to leave the Lakers and said no. He could have said yes when the Lakers approached him about the Warriors last February, but he rejected the idea. Then, this summer, LeBron was a free agent who could have tested the market, but instead he re-signed with the Lakers — and got a no-trade clause. LeBron made sure he had complete control over his future and couldn’t go anywhere he didn’t want to go.

Everything points to him wanting to end his career as a Laker. However, this will take much longer.