Ahead of free agency, LeBron James made a shocking decision by opting into his player option with the LA Lakers. Following this move, speculation has come about of the longtime star being moved. After acquiring Luka Doncic last season, the iconic franchise has begun building around its new star.
As of now, LeBron has not openly stated that he wants the Lakers to move him. It's also worth noting that he's never changed teams in this fashion across his two-decade-plus-long career. Nonetheless, many continue to discuss the idea of LeBron suiting up for a new team in 2026.
Given his connections to two of the team's stars, the Dallas Mavericks have been tossed out as a dark horse team to land LeBron if he's dealt. Amid this discourse, a framework has come about where the Mavs part with multiple key pieces to bring in the 21-time All-Star.
Mavericks receive - LeBron James, Dalton Knecht, and Bronny James
Lakers receive - Klay Thompson, Daniel Gafford, and P.J. Washington
Hawks receive - Caleb Martin, a 2030 2nd round pick (via PHI), and a 2032 2nd round pick (via DAL)
This deal drastically impacts the Mavs' depth, but they'd have arguably the best starting lineup when Kyrie Irving returns from Injury. With a core of LeBron, Irving, Anthony Davis, and rookie Cooper Flagg, Dallas would have endless star power and versatility.
It's not every day a team has a chance to land an all-time talent, so a move like this would be worth considering for the Mavericks. However, a move like this does come with risks. The biggest being that Dallas would be shrinking their window of contention even further by bringing in another aging star.
With their roster's current construction, the Mavericks have the depth and two-way play to be a dark horse team in the Western Conference. Because of this, they might be better off staying away from a LeBron sweepstakes if the Lakers make him available.