'Vibes' around LeBron James concerning for Lakers

LeBron James is supposed to be in his record-setting 23rd NBA season, but his body language and behavior hint at a semi-retired athlete.

For starters, James is previewing 29 other teams on his podcast, which seems unusual for an active player trying to win a title. It's almost as if the Los Angeles Lakers star has begun a second career as an analyst. 

More troubling is his lack of engagement on the Lakers bench. During the team's season opener, James — sidelined with sciatica — appeared low in spirits and almost somber, per onlookers.

"Vibes" around LeBron James not good

According to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, some of his Lakers sources were unhappy with James' body language on the bench. 

"I don't wanna play armchair psychologist here, so I wanna refrain from too much speculation," Buha said on his "Buha's Block" podcast. "But the vibes with that situation have not been the best, I'll say. So, again, I don't really wanna go too much down that road, but yeah, I mean, I thought there were times just looking at the huddle or looking at the bench that he [James] wasn't as engaged as he typically is when he's out."

Buha — who has covered the Lakers for years — said he's unsure if James was "having a bad day" or if he was perturbed by something else, but his pouty behavior became too difficult to ignore. 

Should Lakers trade LeBron James?

The Lakers beat writer added that James never looked as despondent when he missed time due to injuries in previous seasons. 

"....The observations I made of the body language, was not great, and I do think it was a bit different than what it has been in the past in this same situation of him being out," he said of James.

Besides Buha, several other analysts and fans on social media pointed out how James was not part of the team huddle on Tuesday, expressing concerns about his commitment to JJ Redick's squad. The concerns have fueled speculation that the Lakers might trade the veteran star before the Feb. 5 deadline, even though James, who owns a no-trade clause, would need to approve any such move. ESPN's Shams Charania provided an update on the Lakers exploring the move. 

"You never know," Charania told "The Pat McAfee Show" on the likelihood of the Lakers trading James. "...In his mind, it's about having a realistic chance to win a championship. Only time can tell. One game isn't going to decide the Lakers season."

James is reportedly being "very, very patient" with this sciatica and may not resume basketball activities until mid-November. The 40-year-old did not partake in any scrimmages in training camp and missed all preseason games. He turns 41 on Dec. 30.