Proposed three-team Lakers trade sends $109 million father-son duo to Warriors

Things could quickly get interesting for the Los Angeles Lakers on the trade market.

Simply put, there’s a blockbuster trade to be made before the deadline passes, prompting CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn to make life less stressful for the Lakers by creating a hypothetical trade scenario that would send a father-son duo to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a six-time All-Star. 

“Los Angeles wouldn't just need value for James,” Quinn wrote on Wednesday. “Frankly, no 41-year-old making more than $50 million has that much of it. No, that 2028 first-round pick is really payment for renting out their cap space in the summer of 2026.”

“As it stands, the Lakers are slated for max cap space in 2026. Make this trade, and instead, they get max cap space in the summer of 2027. There's a world in which that's their preference anyway.”

“If they can get another valuable asset they can flip in a future trade, that delay might be worthwhile. They might even be able to use Butler as an expiring contract as they pursue a star this offseason. With this trade, they'd have four tradable first-round picks by then.”

Quinn’s full trade proposal sends the James clan (Bronny and LeBron), Anthony Davis, and Dwight Powell to the Warriors, Jimmy Butler, Will Richard, and a 2028 first-round pick to the Lakers, and Draymond Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Buddy Hield, and a 2026 first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks. 

Trading LeBron and Bronny isn’t as far-fetched as it seems. According to a new ESPN report, the Lakers considered sending their four-time NBA champion forward to the Los Angeles Clippers a few years ago.

With the aging 41-year-old star taking a noticeable step back with the Lakers this year, it may not be worthwhile to retain him past the trade deadline.  Additionally, the younger, less accomplished James hasn’t started his NBA career on a positive note and may not be a part of the Lakers’ future plans. 

Landing an injured Butler in a multi-team trade involving LeBron and Bronny wouldn’t be ideal, considering the former Miami Heat star is no longer in his prime and nursing a significant injury. 

Still, Los Angeles has already proven it isn’t afraid to complete unexpected in-season deals.

More NBA: Proposed Warriors trade sees Golden State make NBA-altering deal for $101 million Lakers star