The Dallas Mavericks shocked the NBA when they traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers last season. Now, with rumors swirling about LeBron James’ future with the Lakers, the two teams could make another blockbuster deal this offseason.
James is entering what could be his final season and will likely aim to compete for a fifth NBA championship. If he feels the Lakers aren’t able to contend, James could request a trade or seek a buyout.
Connor Thoms of Bleacher Report recently compiled a mock trade that would send the four-time MVP to Dallas, reuniting him with Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving.
Here’s Thoms’ proposed trade:
Mavericks receive: LeBron James
Lakers receive: Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, P.J. Washington, Jaden Hardy, first-round pick
MORE: Ex-Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic looking to put conditioning concerns to rest
While the Mavericks would be giving up several assets for what could be a short-term rental, this trade would assemble a core of James, Davis, Irving, Cooper Flagg and Dereck Lively. That starting five — plus a solid second unit — could be enough to push Dallas into title contention after missing the playoffs last season.
Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison has already shown a willingness to take bold risks in pursuit of a championship, and trading for James wouldn’t be the most surprising move of his tenure.
James is entering his record-setting 23rd NBA season but remains one of the league’s most productive stars. He earned All-NBA Second Team honors in the 2024-25 campaign, during which he averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game over 70 regular-season appearances.
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