The Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers completed one of the biggest deals at the trade deadline this season. The Lakers sent Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr. to Cleveland in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye and the Cavaliers’ first-round pick.
The deal accomplished big goals for the Lakers as they are now able to clear out salary cap space for two max-level contracts, with the obvious main target being Cavaliers All-Star LeBron James.
However, according to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, one Eastern Conference executive believes the Lakers may have actually hurt their odds of signing LeBron as a free agent:
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he stays in Cleveland now,” one high-ranking Eastern Conference team executive said.