Lakers blockbuster trade idea swaps LeBron James for 6-foot-5 former Warriors splash brother

While trade rumors regarding Los Angeles Lakers standout forward LeBron James haven’t been as rampant lately, some think there’s still a slight chance the soon to be 41-year-old could end his NBA journey with a Luka Doncic-less franchise. 

Bleacher Report’s Greg Swartz happens to be one of those individuals, as the notable journalist believes that the Lakers could trade James to the Dallas Mavericks and receive a 6-foot-5 former Golden State Warriors splash brother in return.

"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 Tuesday.

“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.”

Thompson’s age (35) may cause Lakers fans to question his ability to bolster Los Angeles’ backcourt further hypothetically. However, numbers never lie, which bodes well for the Washington product.

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Thompson, a 41.1% career three-point shooter, connected on 39.1% of his triples during his first season with the Mavericks, which should erase any doubt about his dependability as a mid-30s sharpshooter. 

Before changing teams in 2024-25, the four-time NBA champion was Stephen Curry’s dynamic backcourt mate in the Bay for 13 seasons. 

Thompson’s knack for keeping the ball high on the catch (as open to lowering it briefly) and remaining wide on the perimeter made him a near-unstoppable threat from beyond the arc with the Warriors.

The former lottery pick also didn’t shy away from taxing defensive challenges, helping him morph into a two-way star under Steve Kerr.

Pairing Luka Doncic with an elite floor spacer who isn’t a stranger to winning titles in Thompson would be the best-case scenario for the Lakers in a trade featuring James.

More NBA: Warriors sign 21-year-old forward a part of historic seven-team offseason trade