Reaves gets nod as James is good as gone

Lakers fans would take young guard over the King, despite trade talk from James' agent.

- BILL PLASCHKE

GINA FERAZZI Los Angeles Times LEBRON JAMES still brings joy to Crypto.​com Arena, but the Lakers can fully commit to retooling with Austin Reaves here long-term.

In a city where he has played for the longest stretch of his life, LeBron James should be - considered one of the greatest Lakers ever.

Yet, by most accounts, he's barely in the top 10.

James set the career scoring record here, set the career longevity record here, and won a long-awaited NBA championship here.

Yet he is generally ranked behind Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy ... and maybe even Pau Gasol? When he likely leaves the team after this season, James should get a statue.

He won't. He should get a farewell game similar to Kobe Bryant's final goodbye. He won't.

For eight breathtaking seasons, LeBron James has poured his soul into pleasing a passionate fan base such that he still fills Crypto.​com Arena with joy and light and tomahawk dunks at age 41.

Yet most fans can't wait for him to leave.

They're tired of his drama, unconvinced of his loyalty, dissatisfied with the results, and ready to embrace fresh new franchise faces. One of those belongs to Austin Reaves, who was unwittingly pitted against James this week during unfortunate speculation from James' agent and close friend Rich Paul.

Bottom line? If forced to choose between James and Reaves, here's guessing the majority would choose Reaves. If forced to keep either James or Reaves, almost certainly the Lakers would keep Reaves.