NBA Trade Rumors: Wild 5-Team Blockbuster Proposal Involves LeBron & Giannis
Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report has hashed out this "outlandish" scenario (his own word) that would send the Greek Freak to the LA Lakers to pair with Luka Doncic, and put LeBron and Anthony Davis together again — this time in Dallas.
Pincus insists that his bold concept "is based in reality and makes sense for every party."
LA Lakers receive:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (from Bucks)
- Olivier-Maxence Prosper (from Mavericks)
- Tyrese Martin (from Nets)
- $4 million trade exception (Dalton Knecht)
- $2 million trade exception (Bronny James)
Dallas Mavericks receive:
- LeBron James (from Lakers)
- Bronny James (from Lakers)
- Andre Jackson Jr. (from Bucks)
- Tyler Smith (from Bucks)
- Drew Timme (from Nets)
Milwaukee Bucks receive:
- RJ Barrett (from Raptors)
- PJ Washington (from Mavericks)
- Caleb Martin (from Mavericks)
- Naji Marshall (from Mavericks)
- $2 million trade exception (Tyler Smith)
- 2026 first-round swap rights (from Lakers)
- 2026 Lakers second-rounder (via Raptors)
- 2028 first-round swap rights (from Lakers)
- 2030 first-round swap rights (from Lakers)
- 2031 first-rounder (from Lakers)
- 2032 first-round swap rights (from Lakers)
Brooklyn Nets receive:
- Dalton Knecht (from Lakers)
- Jaden Hardy (from Mavericks)
- Dwight Powell (from Mavericks)
Toronto Raptors receive:
- Daniel Gafford (from Mavericks)
- $13.3 million trade exception (RJ Barrett)
Putting Giannis together with Luka would likely be the most insane dynamic duo that the NBA has ever seen. Does it really matter who else the Lakers surround them with? It would be appointment viewing every single game.
In Dallas, LeBron would be reuniting not only with Anthony Davis, whom he won a title with in 2020 with the Lakers, but also with Kyrie Irving, who he shared a championship with in 2016 in Cleveland (though we all know how that turned out, with Irving demanding a trade away from LeBron). It would certainly be an intriguing 'Big 3'—no, wait, make that a 'Big 4' with the incoming generational first pick Cooper Flagg joining the Mavs this season.
As for the Bucks, aside from getting an RJ and a PJ in return for Giannis, they'd also receive four first-round swaps plus an outright additional first-round pick. Barrett is a star-worthy forward who averaged career highs last season in Toronto with 21.1 points and 5.4 assists, and, as Pincus notes, "Milwaukee isn't looking to tank post-Antetokounmpo. Instead, the team (would still have, in this scenario) a deep, viable roster in the wide-open Eastern Conference. Don't expect a deep postseason run, but a playoff berth is reasonably attainable if the team remains healthy."
Pincus says the Raptors would be interested in doing this to "reduce payroll and get out of the luxury tax," while adding another big up front to work with Jakob Poeltl in an otherwise thin position, and trading from strength, as they have a multitude of strong wing players.
The Nets would get "a free look" at promising youngsters Knecht, 24, and Hardy, 23.
