1. Jazz acquisition immediately becomes worth gold if LeBron James & Lakers fall out

LeBron James might not Le Bron James not anymore, but he’s still, well, LeBron drives James crazy. At 41 years old, he is still one of the NBA’s biggest draft picks. That’s why no matter who has him, losing him still hurts. Ironically, the Utah Jazz have everything to gain if the Los Angeles Lakers lose James this offseason, because if they do, that pick the Lakers owe to the Jazz next year will suddenly increase dramatically in value.

Let’s give the full context and start with the Jazz. Thanks to the First Russell Westbrook-Jazz, the Lakers traded their 2027 first-round pick (top-four protected) to the Jazz in the deal. Before the Luka Doncic trade, this asset seemed like one of the most golden in the league. With the ‘LeBron era in LA coming to an end’, smoke seems legitimate, but suddenly the value of that choice would come back to life.

ESPN’s Shams Charania basically confirmed that LeBron and the Lakers may part ways this summer, though he didn’t specify when, and many speculated this when the Lakers opted not to extend him this past offseason.

Whether he retires this summer or leaves in free agency, James’ departure from LA is fantastic news for the Jazz.

The Jazz could easily get a valuable player

The Lakers wouldn’t become the worst team in the NBA if LeBron were to leave, but his departure would make it harder for them to stay at the top of the brutal Western Conference. With the Jazz expected to be in the playoff hunt next season, that’s one more competitor the Lakers should worry about, which would further increase the chances of that pick turning into something good.

More competition in the West could make the Lakers worry about staying afloat in the postseason. Granted, we’re getting a bit ahead of ourselves, but the Lakers are currently facing a lot of questions as they’re currently constructed, and LeBron’s departure only adds to them.

Yes, LeBron’s departure would also likely mean the Lakers would have to pay to keep Austin Reaves – man, it would be amazing if LeBron leaves, where Utah then manages to pry Reaves (very much intended) – and while it would hamper the Jazz’s offseason plans, it’s not the end of the world (as long as Utah has some backup plans).

It’s funny how throughout LeBron James’ entire NBA career, the Jazz are perhaps the team he has personally had the least influence on over the past two decades. They’ve never faced him in a playoff series, and even if he’s changed teams, he hasn’t really gotten in the way of their plans.

But in the not-too-distant future, he could inadvertently give the Jazz a golden asset if he and the Lakers part ways. It’s not over until it’s over, but there’s so much smoke to this whole drama that it’s hard not to think about the possibilities if and when LeBron’s departure becomes a reality.