As LeBron James hits the sidelines with lingering sciatica in his right side, the Los Angeles Lakers’ performance over the next month could determine whether he considers a switch to rival teams once he’s healthy. The team announced he will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks. This injury ends his personal streak of playing in 22 consecutive opening night games. LeBron James’ absence to open the season has unexpectedly set the stage for a potential blockbuster intra-city trade involving the Clippers—provided two critical benchmarks are met.

James is in the final year of his contract, and his agent, Rich Paul, previously stated that winning a championship is the top priority. According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James will closely watch the team’s performance without him. “LeBron’s gonna be watching this team while he’s out. And if while he is out, they are struggling, that could lead to the next step that we could see at some point this season,” McMenamin said. This sets the stage for meeting the proposed conditions and for a Clippers trade to occur.

A social media post has crystallized the scenario: if the Clippers surge to a near-league-best 17–3 record by the time James returns, and the Lakers languish around 7–13, James could push for a trade across town. Such a move would rewrite NBA history—but if both of the following conditions are true:

1. Clippers’ Breakout Performance
   With cap space projected among the league’s top ten in summer 2026, the Clippers must solidify themselves as title contenders by January. A 17–3 start would prove their front-office vision and create an irresistible landing spot for James.

2. Lakers’ Early-Season Struggles
   Battling eight games in the first 13 days, the Lakers’ depth and chemistry will be tested. A sub-350 win percentage without James would amplify calls for a seismic shakeup, potentially convincing James that immediate contention lies elsewhere.

The Clippers are projected to be one of the ten teams with significant salary cap space in the summer of 2026. However, any in-season trade for James would be complex. His contract has a no-trade clause, meaning he must approve any deal.

The Lakers would also need to agree, and matching his $52.6 million salary would require the Clippers to send out many player contracts.

This speculation is set against a challenging backdrop for the Lakers. Coach JJ Redick has acknowledged the difficulty of building chemistry without James, who has not participated in a whole training camp practice. The team faces an immediate test with eight games in the first 13 days of the season.

How they perform in this stretch could determine if James sees a future with the Lakers or decides to force a historic intra-city move.

Meanwhile, James’ future remains the subject of intense discussion. He has repeatedly said he does not know when he will retire, only that the end is “sooner than later.” If the Lakers cannot remain competitive in his absence, the door may open for a historic intra-city trade to reshape the NBA landscape.

Talking of his absence, the Lakers star is facing a longer recovery than initially thought, with a new report revealing the injury has been bothering him for months.

Latest update on LeBron James by insider

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is facing a longer recovery than initially thought, with a new report revealing the injury has been bothering him for months. ESPN’s Shams Charania shared that the nerve issue first developed during a summer workout. “This injury for LeBron, this nerve issue, first occurred in late July, early August during an on-court workout,” Charania stated on NBA Today.

The problem has persisted for over two and a half months, significantly disrupting James’ usual offseason routine. Charania explained that James had not participated in much basketball activity for over a month before the Lakers’ media day on September 29. This lack of practice means the 40-year-old is not yet in his customary basketball shape.

The team has announced James will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks. Head coach JJ Redick had previously described the issue as nerve irritation in the glute and said James was on his own timeline for recovery. The Lakers are known to be overly cautious with their veteran star.

James is entering his 23rd NBA season as the league’s oldest player. Last year, he appeared in 70 games, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the field. His absence will force the Lakers to adjust their lineup for their season opener against the Golden State Warriors on October 21.