The most-likely scenario, according to Dan Woike and Joe Vardon of The Athletic, is James stays put and the Lakers see how far they can get next season with a core of James, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, and Rui Hachimura, plus free-agent additions Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia.

Trade speculation has been running rampant since right before the start of NBA free agency, when James exercised the $52.6 million option on his contract.

It's hard to believe, but LeBron James -- basketball legend, all-time NBA leading scorer, face of the Los Angeles Lakers -- may soon be officially diagnosed with most dreaded disease to befall professional athletes not named after Yankees' sluggers: Kaepernick Syndrome.