As the NBA offseason rages on, one of the biggest underlying stories is LeBron James and the LA Lakers. After opting into his player option for this season, there has been a lot of speculation that he could possibly be traded.
When it comes to possible landing spots for LeBron, the Dallas Mavericks have been one of the top teams mentioned. Not only are they equipped to contend right now, but the 21-time All-Star has ties to Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis.
On Wednesday, Bleacher Report's Dan Favale put together a handful of realistic trades that could happen involving some of the league's biggest names. In one scenario, the Mavericks part with most of their depth to acquire LeBron from the Lakers.
Mavericks receive - LeBron James
Utah Jazz receive - Jarred Vanderbilt, 2030 second-round pick, 2032 second-round pick
Lakers receive - Kyle Anderson, Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall, Klay Thompson, P.J. Washington, 2029 first-round pick
For the Mavericks, this puts them all in on their window to compete for a title right now. They'd have at most two or three real chances to win a championship before Father Time catches up to LeBron, Irving, and Davis. From there, they'd move on to fully embrace Cooper Flagg as the future of the franchise as he prepares to enter his prime.
This is an enticing offer for the Lakers for various reasons. For starters, they'd be getting their own first-round pick back. Also, they'd flank Luka Doncic with a handful of familiar faces that he's had success with in the past. LA could use this newfound depth to further tinker with the roster around their new cornerstone piece.
Dallas would be giving up a lot in this deal for a star on the wrong side of 40. That said, a core of Flagg, LeBron, Irving, and AD is certainly a fascinating idea.