First Irving asks for a trade. Then James is blindsided. Then Irving said he thinks James leaked the story. Now this story from Stephen A. Smith, which he told on his radio show Monday afternoon.

Now, whether James would be tempted to beat Irving because he asked for a trade or because Irving alluded to the fact that James was the one who leaked the trade rumors to the media is unclear.

They will be looking to get both LeBron and Paul George, one general manager said. Anything they have been doing has been all about protecting their cap space next summer.

But the Lakers will have to show improvement this season, especially among its young players, to make it clear they have the potential to play with the Warriors in the West.

Rocket reunion Should Anthony join Chris Paul and James Harden in Houston, the opportunity could be open for James to join the Rockets next summer and play with Paul and Anthony, two of his best friends. It won’t be easy, however. The Rockets would have to get into luxury-tax territory to make that happen, and with the franchise up for sale by owner Les Alexander, there’s no telling what the approach to the tax would be in Houston.

As one league official said, I think that is a great idea in theory, but you’d have to have those guys be willing to take less money than the max. Maybe they will. But they’re all big union guys, and it would be tricky for them to be seen giving owners a break like that.