Windhorst: LeBron James Used Knicks 'to Pressure' Lakers into Trade for NBA Deadline

LeBron James wants the Los Angeles Lakers to be aggressive ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, and it seems he's done with subtlety.

The four-time MVP posted an ominous hourglass on X, formerly known as Twitter, last week and followed it up by wearing a New York Knicks towel on national television after Saturday's win at Madison Square Garden.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst said the towel move, in particular, was done to send a message to the Lakers front office.

"Of course, he was cognizant and aware that he was putting on a towel that said New York Knicks. Why would he mess with the Knicks? Because he was using the Knicks as a tool to pressure the Lakers," Windhorst said on the Hoop Collective (four-minute mark).

The Lakers have won two straight games to move to 26-25 on the season, putting them a disappointing ninth place in the Western Conference. They have been linked to several potential trade targets, with Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray being the biggest name most often mentioned.

Murray is the type of skilled two-way player who would mesh perfectly with James and Anthony Davis but would come at a cost–most notably the Lakers' 2029 first-round pick. The pick is the Lakers' only tradeable first but carries significant value given James will be long retired by then and Davis will be 36 years old.

James, who can become an unrestricted free agent this summer, has no more time to waste at age 39. He's already stretched his prime beyond that of anyone in NBA history, and Father Time is undefeated for a reason. He understandably doesn't care about the middle schooler the Lakers could draft five years from now.

If the Lakers don't act with urgency and push their asset chips to the middle of the table, don't be surprised if things get a little acrimonious in the coming months.