Lakers Rumors: There Was 'Initial Fear' About LeBron Not Being Consulted on Luka Trade

Some people within the Los Angeles Lakers had an "initial fear" star LeBron James would take exception to not being consulted before the blockbuster trade for Luka Dončić, according to The Athletic's Jovan Buha.

The Lakers insider reported Monday on his Buha's Block podcast that lower-level members of the organization wondered how James would respond to the move for a number of reasons.

LeBron and Anthony Davis had been teammates for six seasons and helped Los Angeles win a title in 2020. They also share an agent in Rich Paul, so the trade was perceived by some as a sign of Klutch Sports Group losing some influence with the franchise.

Then there's the fact that adding Dončić shifted the Lakers' timeline a bit and laid the groundwork for a post-LeBron future. They might have actually taken a small step backward this year in order to widen their championship window much further.

Buha went on to say the concerns over James' mindset were put to rest "within 24 hours" and that it became clear the 21-time All-Star remained fully committed.

The Lakers and Dallas Mavericks both played their cards close to the chest when they pulled off what might be the biggest midseason swap in NBA history. From the perspective of L.A. general manager Rob Pelinka, that meant keeping the team's best player in the dark.

James learned of the deal while eating dinner with his family.

"My emotions were all over the place," he told reporters. "The first time I heard it, I thought it was for sure fake. I thought it was a hoax. People messing around or whatever. But AD FaceTimed me, and I talked to him for quite a while. Even when I got off the phone with him, it still didn't seem real. Pretty much didn't seem real until I saw Luka today, and then I saw the clip of AD at the Dallas shootaround. That's when it finally hit me, like, 'This is real.'"

And for as much as things appear to be fine now, one facet of a report from ESPN's Dave McMenamin after the NBA trade deadline passed is worth noting.

"What is clear is that Dončić will have a say," McMenamin wrote while alluding to the failed trade for Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams. "And it wasn't lost on James' camp, sources said, that Pelinka prioritized Dončić's involvement upon his arrival and immediately engaged in the Williams trade that he'd asked for, when James had for years wanted the team to trade its picks to improve its roster."

The Lakers figure to be active this summer to bolster the supporting cast around James and Dončić. Assuming LeBron either triggers his player option or signs a new contract, Pelinka will presumably involve him more on potential personnel moves than he did prior to the trade deadline.