Blockbuster Mock Trade Adds LeBron James Next to Cooper Flagg, Completes Klay Thompson’s Vision

Blockbuster Mock Trade Adds LeBron James Next to Cooper Flagg, Completes Klay Thompson's Vision originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

For the first time in his career, LeBron James has opted into the final year of his contract. Next season, the Los Angeles Lakers will owe him $52.6 million, although trade speculation has already started.

While James has often been the subject of rumors, none of them have ever had any merit. Howeve r, as the Lakers try and build around Luka Doncic, parting ways with James certainly fits their timeline.

The Dallas Mavericks have long been linked to James, although nothing has ever come of it. Still, if James wants to ride off into the sunset, doing so with either the Cleveland Cavaliers or two of his best teammates--Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis--makes a degree of sense.

The Mavericks can easily swing a deal to add James into the fold.

Full Mock Trade Details:

Lakers receive: Daniel Gafford, PJ Washington, Klay Thompson

Mavericks receive: LeBron James, Bronny James

In this deal, the Lakers build the 2024 Dallas Mavericks 2.0, swapping out Irving for Austin Reaves, and finally allowing Klay Thompson to compete for a title next to Luka. It's why he was eager to sign in Dallas to begin with, before Nico Harrison traded Doncic in the dead of night.

While the Lakers g et a better timeline with Doncic and Reaves, the Mavericks commit fully to a lineup of Irving, Davis, James, Cooper Flagg, and Naji Marshall. Of course, as Irving recovers from an ACL tear, the Mavericks will have to find a stopgap point guard. Flagg and James are both accomplished facilitators, although free agents like Chris Paul and D'Angelo Russell would fit.

Of course, James would lobby for Paul over Russell, as the two are longtime friends who have never played on the same team.

Would James be willing to end his career on a team and in a city that he has virtually no connection to? That remains to be seen, although for a chance to win one last ring with a group of players he is close to, perhaps he would waive his no-trade clause.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.

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