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NBA Trade Deadline: Every Team’s Most Untouchable Asset

By Maxwell Ogden

Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) and forward Blake Griffin (32) during an NBA game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after being foul in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after being foul in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James

If Kevin Love is traded, the Cleveland Cavaliers would still have a combination of Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson that started during the run to the 2015 NBA Finals. If Kyrie Irving were traded, the loss would sting, but he’s constantly injured the Cavaliers won two NBA Finals games without him.

Neither loss would be ideal, depending on the return, but both stars pale in comparison to franchise player LeBron James.

Love him or hate him, James remains the NBA’s preeminent franchise player. He’s made five consecutive NBA Finals appearances on two very different teams, winning two championships and two Finals MVP awards along the way.

A four-time regular season MVP and nine-time All-NBA First Team honoree, James is one of the most accomplished players in league history.

Having James on the roster is essentially a guarantee that a team will make it to the playoffs and beyond the first round. The King has never once lost in Round 1, hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2004-05, and has made the NBA Finals in every season since 2011.

There’s no player more difficult to replace in the NBA than James.

Next: Dallas Mavericks