The NBA seems to get more exciting by the week in terms of trade rumors and drama. There is no secret that LeBron James is currently deciding his future. Retirement rumors are spreading far and wide, but the news of his former teammate Kyrie Irving reportedly recruiting The King to Dallas has also been breaking news outlets so far this week. Could Kyrie Irving actually manage to add LeBron James to the core of himself and superstar Luka Doncic?

The trade between the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks that sends LeBron James to Dallas could involve Tim Hardaway Jr, Davis Bertans, Maxi Kleber, and two first-round picks heading the opposite way. The Mavericks struggled this season, and many fans and analysts have been calling for a major shakeup to the roster after the team failed to even make the play-in tournament after making the Western Conference Finals a year prior. LeBron James, one of the greatest players of all time, has been at the center of trade rumors for weeks, and it seems that the Mavericks can actually make a move to acquire him.

Tim Hardaway Jr, Davis Bertans, and Maxi Kleber are all solid players, but they are not on the same level as LeBron James. Not to mention, the acquisition of James means the likes of Kyrie Irving and Draymond Green can follow, and the two first-round picks that the Mavericks are giving up could be valuable assets for the Lakers in the future. It remains to be seen whether this trade will pay off for either team in the long run, but it is certainly a bold move for both sides. It is time to take a closer look at the trade and what it means for both the Lakers and the Mavericks. We will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each player involved in the trade, as well as the potential impact of the two first-round picks. We will also examine the broader implications of this trade for the NBA as a whole, including how it could affect the West, with the Mavericks having the best starting lineup in modern memory.

A Blockbuster Deal For LeBron James

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Here are the trade details that will start creating one of the greatest Big Fours in NBA history with LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and Draymond Green while also giving the Los Angeles Lakers an immediate chance to rebuild around Anthony Davis. If LeBron wants his way to Dallas, the Lakers almost have to abide and the very first step to winning a championship is making The King the first target.

Trade Details

Dallas Mavericks Receive: LeBron James

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Tim Hardaway Jr, Davis Bertans, Maxi Kleber, 2023 No. 10 Overall Pick, 2024 First-Round Pick

Clearly, this deal is groundbreaking and would shift the entire Western Conference in favor of the Mavericks while pushing the Lakers into an immediate rebuild and reshuffling of the team. Trading a player like LeBron James could potentially free up cap space for the Lakers to sign other players or make other moves in the offseason.

This could be especially important if the Lakers are looking to build a more balanced roster around Anthony Davis and go younger with more flexibility. Trading LeBron James could also be a way for the Lakers to acquire multiple assets in return, such as draft picks or young players with potential. This could help the team build for the future and potentially set them up for long-term success.

Meanwhile, the trade for James would immediately place heavy expectations on the Dallas Mavericks. Trading role players and any first-round picks is something Dallas has to do to keep Luka Doncic happy and convinced that winning is the right way forward. The Dallas Mavericks desperately missed their playmaker and point guard Jalen Brunson because he kept the game flowing and had a high basketball IQ. LeBron James would be a massive upgrade over Brunson, meaning making the Western Conference Finals would be the bare minimum.

The King would be the first step to building a dominant Big Four, that will also include Kyrie Irving and Draymond Green. There is no way the Mavericks can form a dominant side without convincing LeBron James to be the first major acquisition.

Re-Sign Kyrie Irving And Sign Draymond Green

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With LeBron James’ signature intact, the next step is obviously re-signing Kyrie Irving. It is not likely that the Mavericks would have traded for Kyrie Irving this past season without some sort of “handshake agreement” with the 8-time All-Star. Kyrie probably does not want to have to go through with leaving another team when his image of being a team destroyer is heavy in his legacy. Irving reportedly wants a max deal and financial security is his priority, so it is likely the Mavericks will be willing to pay him to keep a star at home alongside Luka Doncic.

The prospect of LeBron joining the Mavericks might also be enough for Kyrie to stay with Dallas and even take a reasonable pay cut. Everybody knows that Irving wants max dollars, so while that would be there to some extent, he might have to take a little bit less for the team to prosper beyond just him, Luka, and LeBron James. That is because Draymond Green could be another available target for the Mavericks this summer. In this case, Green has to reject the player option and sign a friendly 3-year deal with the Mavericks.

Green is no stranger to being a LeBron James fan and is actually a close friend of The King. Despite being his rival, the two actually have a proper friendship. Furthermore, Green wants to win championships and prove he is no longer washed up. Even with the talents of Doncic, LeBron, and Irving secured, neither of them is considered a dynamic defensive player and Draymond is needed to hold the fort down.

Dallas Mavericks Create A Dominant Big Four

LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and his presence on any team would immediately make them a contender for the championship. The Mavericks have been looking to add another superstar to their roster to complement Luka Doncic, who is already one of the best players in the league. Pairing James with Doncic would create a dynamic duo that would be nearly impossible for any team to stop. Not to mention, the presence of The King would improve Luka’s ability and the all-around game even more.

In addition to Doncic, the Mavericks also have a superstar in Kyrie Irving, who is one of the best point guards in the league. Irving and James have a history of playing together, having won a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016. If the Mavericks were able to keep Irving and trade for James, they would have a trio of superstars that would be nearly unbeatable. The trade that sends James to Dallas for Tim Hardaway Jr, Davis Bertans, Maxi Kleber, and two first-round picks would be a significant move for the Mavericks. Hardaway Jr, Bertans, and Kleber are all decent bench players, but gutting the team for The King is still the best way forward for the franchise.

The addition of Draymond Green would also make the Mavericks a dominant side on both ends, as he provides veteran experience and all-around ability as a forward. The starting lineup is Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, complete with LeBron James and Draymond Green. The center spot can be filled by any capable rim-runer with size, such as the likes of JaVale McGee or even DeMarcus Cousins.

Overall, the Mavericks would be making a bold move by trading for James, but it could pay off in a major way. Pairing James with Doncic and Irving would create a powerhouse team that would be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference. The Mavericks would be taking a risk by giving up several players and draft picks, but the potential reward could be a championship. Only time will tell if this trade will come to fruition, but it is certainly an exciting possibility for Mavericks fans. LeBron and Luka can share ball-handling duties, while Kyrie acts as the best spot-up shooter on the team (37.9% 3-PT FG in 2023). LeBron lost in the Western Conference, while Luka and Kyrie did not even make the playoffs, so a reunion would be the best option for each player.

Can They Win A Championship?

This is not a deal that would benefit the Los Angeles Lakers much unless they are faced with the fact that LeBron James would be willing to walk away for nothing. Los Angeles, by giving up a 38-year-old James, can re-sign key priorities Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura while keeping Anthony Davis. Perhaps, they might also keep D’Angelo Russell, who is only 27 years old, but the most important thing is that the Lakers have the No. 10 overall pick to add an exciting young player to the roster immediately. Not to mention, Los Angeles can also add another first-round pick to replace the 2027 first-round pick they gave up before the trade deadline.

No doubt, the Dallas Mavericks win the trade. LeBron has had many Big Three’s over his career, including having Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh by his side, which led to back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013. James also had a Big Three in 2016, with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love helping him win a chip. Even if it failed, James also had Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook with The King playing well individually. As great as those Big Threes were in terms of star power, Luka and Kyrie are on another level.

James would make the Dallas Mavericks the immediate favorites, and even with his max salary, the team would have enough money to retain JaVale McGee and insert him into the starting lineup at center while keeping 22-year-old Josh Green, who would slot in on the wing. A starting lineup with Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, Josh Green, LeBron James, and JaVale McGee would be very difficult to match up with and the Mavericks would be the favorites to win it all. If Kyrie Irving can convince James that joining Dallas is the right move, The King can force his way to the Mavericks and earn the 2023-24 NBA title at the very least.