Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was one of the major names involved in trade rumors this offseason. With several reports suggesting that the Lakers would be looking to move on from the forward, James was linked with several teams, including the Miami Heat, the New York Knicks, and the Dallas Mavericks.
The Lakers’ earlier approach toward maintaining cap space to form a competitive team in the future only fanned the fire of these rumors. However, Luka Doncic‘s approach toward winning the title with James forced the Lakers to change their stance.
While this has been effective in helping the Lakers sustain their core, there is still a scenario in which it could be viewed as volatile. With the Purple and Gold catering to Doncic and building the team around him as the focal point, James has effectively been relegated to being the No. 2 option on the team.
Along with the rumors regarding James’ intentions to join Dallas in 2023, Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz used this train of thought as the baseline to formulate a potential trade proposal that could spark new rumors linking the 40-year-old to the Dallas Mavericks.
“If LeBron James grows tired of being a No. 2 option with the Los Angeles Lakers, finishing his career with the Dallas Mavericks is an intriguing option,” Swartz wrote.
“The Dallas Mavericks could cobble together the salaries of Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, Caleb Martin, and Naji Marshall to get close to James’ $52.6 million contract while still keeping Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Cooper Flagg, D’Angelo Russell, P.J. Washington, Dereck Lively II, and others.”
“We know all too well that these front offices can negotiate behind the scenes. If James is looking for a new home, the Mavericks should be extremely interested in reuniting the four-time MVP with Irving and Davis.”
Swarz’s suggestion could be significant in tilting the scales of power in the West. With this in mind, we examine the impact of a potential trade involving LeBron James on the Mavericks as well as the Lakers.
How Does LeBron James Fit On The Mavericks?
Swarz’s approach sees LeBron James join the Mavericks to reunite with his former teammates, Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Given that he has won championships with both, albeit on separate occasions, the Mavs could see a lot of merit in this move, especially since this scenario also helps them retain Cooper Flagg.
Acquiring LeBron James would position the Mavericks to become a powerhouse in the West.
Even with a talented scoring force like Kyrie Irving out of the rotation with injury, Dallas wouldn’t see a shortfall in production simply due to the impact the forward would have on the team’s offense. Given the 40-year-old’s versatility as a scorer and playmaker, even at this stage in his career, he remains a significant contributor.
Last season, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, shooting 51.3% from the field and 37.6% from three-point range. While he has been criticized for his limited effort on the defensive end, on a team featuring a defensive stalwart like Davis alongside a formidable rim protector like Dereck Lively II, and even Flagg’s latent defensive upside, there are enough avenues to make up for his shortcomings.
While there is no certainty regarding Irving’s timeline for recovery, the Mavericks can be assured of their chances of competing against the best teams in the West. When additionally considering how valuable James could be as a mentor for their rookie, Dallas could see this trade quite favorably.
Do The Lakers Benefit From Trading LeBron James?
Trading LeBron James would be a significant move on behalf of the Lakers. Given recent reports involving their decision to refuse James’ demands for an extension, however, it would not be out of the question.
The Purple and Gold seem to have embraced the Luka Doncic era. In this regard, a potential trade involving James, while undoubtedly shocking, would still have some benefit at the right price.
Swartz’s trade proposal features some interesting assets, with players such as Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, Caleb Martin, and Naji Marshall being mentioned. Each of these veterans has upside and has experience playing alongside Doncic.
Thompson may not be the two-way player or perimeter threat he used to be, but he remains an extremely potent offensive option. Last season, he averaged 14.0 points and 3.4 rebounds, shooting 41.2% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range. Given Doncic’s playmaking style, a reliable shooter will always be useful. In this regard, the four-time champion could still prove to be effective.
Gafford’s addition could be significant, primarily since the big man was linked to the Lakers in the offseason as well. Although the Purple and Gold signed Deandre Ayton, having Gafford act as a secondary big man could be a notable boost to Los Angeles’ frontcourt, potentially making them a much more formidable team.
Last season, the big man averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds per game, and 1.8 blocks per game on 70.2% shooting overall. Given his rim protection skills and reputation as a reliable lob threat, he could seamlessly fit into the Lakers’ rotation.
Along with Thompson and Gafford, both Martin and Marshall also present a lot of upside to the team’s frontcourt. The Lakers have been linked to several wing players this offseason. In this trade scenario, they would acquire two viable options that could instantly bolster their wing depth.
Both players have positioned themselves as solid two-way players. Last season, Martin averaged 7.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 0.9 steals per game, shooting 42.4% from the field. Meanwhile, Marshall, who earned more playing time, averaged 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game on 50.8% shooting overall.
While Martin is a better perimeter shooter, Marshall is a better shot-creator. Overall, both have merit and could be a solid addition to the roster.
Overall, while this trade may reduce the Lakers’ star power, it provides them with depth, which could be equally critical in helping them cement their status as a title contender.
Does This Deal Work?
As promising as this deal is on paper, going through with it could prove to be quite complicated, primarily due to LeBron James’ massive $52.6 million cap hit. Although Swartz’s suggestion allows for the Mavericks to produce enough assets to come close to matching James’ contract value, Dallas would be severely shorthanded, as they would be reduced to only 10 active players on their roster.
To fill out their roster, the Mavericks would be forced to sign free agents on low-cost contracts or trigger more trades to acquire more players in return. Given that such a situation could pose a risk to the Mavericks’ depth, acquiring LeBron James may not be in the franchise’s best interests.
