Former Oregon running back LaMichael James seemed to start coming into his own back in 2012 when the San Francisco 49ers were on a tear through the postseason. But while he had major contributions to wins over the Falcons and others, he hasn’t seen that much of an increase in playing since since and has now landed on the trading block.
The surplus of talent the Niners have at the position — with Kendell Hunter filling the same role as James and Marcus Lattimore being groomed as Frank Gore’s successor — means that James is expendable and he knows it as much as the team does. According to ESPN’s Bill Williamson, James would welcome a trade to a team that affords him more playing time but isn’t going as far as requesting it happen.
#49ers Source says James would welcome trade if it meant more playing time. Source wouldn’t say James requested trade. He wants to play.
— Bill Williamson (@BWilliamsonNFL) April 17, 2014
We’ve been hearing James’s name come up a lot lately in trade rumors but nothing has seemed to be of much significance. It has been noted that James wouldn’t be the centerpiece of a pick involving a high draft pick and a mid to late round pick is likely what the Niners can fetch for him.