Charles Barkley wants LeBron James out of the Hollywood Hills.
The Hall of Famer implored James to find his way out of Los Angeles as soon as possible while drama continues to linger regarding his future with the franchise.
“LeBron is going to have to move on at some point. I mean, it is what it is,” Barkley said while appearing on the BetMGM Network.
“You know, he’s been there, even though he’s been putting up good numbers, they haven’t been successful in probably four years,” he added.
Barkley added that the Mavericks may be the second-best team in the NBA’s loaded Western Conference behind the reigning champion Thunder.
James turned the dial up to 100 earlier this offseason when his agent, Rich Paul, released several quotes, one of which thanked the Lakers for his time with the team while seemingly pointing to a potential trade demand should the roster not be a championship-caliber unit.
“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future,” Paul told ESPN in a statement released in June. “We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”
But it’s not that easy.
The NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) makes it nearly impossible for James to be traded with his massive salary of $52.63 million this year.
With the Lakers preparing to build around their newest superstar, Luka Doncic, Los Angeles is in a good position long term but that doesn’t fit the 40-year-old’s timeline.
“It’s already probably Luka’s team now,” Barkley said. “You don’t sign, trade for Luka Doncic, give him all that money, and it’s not his team.”
James also had some prickly comments at the end of last season after the Lakers were defeated by the Timberwolves in five games during the playoffs.
A big piece of the problem was the Lakers’ lack of size in the paint, which forced James to handle the center position.
“My guy [Anthony Davis] said what he needed, and then he was gone the following week,” James said, referencing a January interview with ESPN where Davis all-but begged the team to get a center.
Davis was shipped out less than two weeks later for Doncic.
Despite Davis being in Dallas and James in Los Angeles, the two continue to post cryptic signals on social media about still wanting to be teammates.
The Lakers added former No. 1 overall pick DeAndre Ayton to replace Davis this upcoming season.