NBA Trade Ideas Sending Lakers’ LeBron James To Mavericks, Knicks, Nuggets

If LeBron James requests a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, only a few teams can trade for the NBA legend due to his high salary. 

James will make $52.6 million next season.

Dan Favale of Bleacher Report came up with three James trade ideas involving the Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets.

James has a no-trade clause in his contract, so if he requests a trade from the Lakers, he can pick his next team. 

Trade 1

Dallas Mavericks Receive: LeBron James

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Kyle Anderson, Daniel Gafford, Naji Marshall,

Utah Jazz Receive: Jarred Vanderbilt, Philadelphia’s 2030 second-round pick (via Dallas), Dallas’ 2032 second-round pick

Trade 2

New York Knicks Receive: Karl-Anthony Towns

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: LeBron James

Trade 3

Denver Nuggets Receive: LeBron James, Bronny James

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: DaRon Holmes II, Jamal Murray, Peyton Watson, 2028 first-round pick swap

James is 40. He turns 41 in December. He’s the oldest active player in the NBA and hasn’t won a title since 2020. 

However, James remains one of the top players in the league. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks for the Lakers last season in 70 games and made the All-NBA Second Team. 

The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs in five games, but James played well, averaging 25.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.8 blocks in the five-game series.

After James picked up his 2025-26 player option, his agent (Rich Paul) issued a very cryptic statement to Shams Charania of ESPN. 

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul said. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.

“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”

The Lakers haven’t announced that James picked up his 2025-26 player option, which is pretty strange. 

With that said, James’ future with the Lakers is certainly one to track.