The Los Angeles Lakers have struggled to field a capable frontcourt rotation since trading away Anthony Davis. Could the answer be a return for Davis? To make that happen, the Lakers probably have to convince LeBron James to be in the trade - and that requires some help from the Dallas Mavericks.
To unpack this particular situation, things go back to February of 2025. The Lakers pulled off an absolute heist, trading Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick for Luka Doncic. For all that Davis accomplished with the Lakers and his two-way dominance as a big man, landing a top-5 player just entering his prime was a no-brainer for Rob Pelinka and the Lakers.
Now, instead of building a team around a 40-year-old LeBron James, the Lakers were building around a 26-year-old Luka Doncic. The timeline has shifted, the needs of the roster have shifted, and LeBron James is on the periphery. He hasn't played a minute yet this season for the Lakers and they have barely missed him.
Yet interestingly enough, what LeBron needed and what Luka needs are not all that dissimilar. While they play very different defensive roles, on offense they are both playmaking forwards who need play finishers around them. And Doncic has been his best with a rim-running center. Deandre Ayton has had some big games for the Laker this year, but that's not his preferred play style -- and he is merely good, not elite, at protecting the rim.
The ideal fit for Doncic would be Anthony Davis, one of the league's best play finishers and one of its best rim protectors. While it would seem absolutely insane for Davis to boomerang his way back to the Lakers, it's perfectly legal under NBA rules. And it makes an awful lot of sense on the court.
The problem is matching salary. Anthony Davis makes 35 percent of the salary cap this season, which comes out to $54,126,450. The Lakers would have to come very close to matching that or risk pushing over the first tax apron. Building a trade package around Austin Reaves would require stacking a lot of contracts -- and he is a cornerstone part of their future.
LeBron James could be traded for Anthony Davis
LeBron James, however, makes $52.6 million this season and is not a part of the Lakers' long-term plans. Trading him would allow the Lakers to essentially add Anthony Davis to the roster they have been playing with all season -- a team good enough to be jostling for homecourt advantage in the Western Conference.
It's possible that the Mavericks value LeBron more than Davis and would accept him coming back in the deal. The problem with that plan is that LeBron James has the ability to veto any trade with his no-trade clause. Why would he sign off on going to a lottery team to be the Mister Miyagi to Cooper Flagg?
The answer to that problem would come from Dallas: they could promise to waive him outright. This idea, first pitched by Nate Duncan on his daily podcast, would give the Mavericks a massive amount of expiring salary as they position themselves for this offseason. They also wouldn't be worried about whatever players they get back driving wins that take away from their lottery position; LeBron would be off the team entirely.
Now LeBron James gets to pocket his max salary and sign with any team he wants for a playoff run. He would be a hired gun, except more of a bazooka. While this trade would evaporate his bird rights, it would set him up for an inspired finish, be that with the Knicks, the Cavaliers or the Heat.
The Lakers would have Anthony Davis, the Mavericks would have a pick or two and significant salary relief next summer as they line themselves up for a top draft pick, and LeBron James could pick a team to chase another title.
Is it insane? It absolutely is. But when an insane idea actually makes sense for each individual party, suddenly things start to come together. It's an intriguing idea and would throw the entire NBA into chaos.