The Los Angeles Lakers pulled off one of the most stunning trades in recent NBA history by acquiring Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks at the trade deadline this past season. In doing so, they began shifting away from LeBron James as their centerpiece star.

While they lose key players, the Mavs still have four former No. 1 picks, a rim-running center in Dereck Lively II, another guard in D'Angelo Russell and key wings in Naji Marshall and Max Christie. That's a championship roster.

The Dallas Mavericks were instantly brought up as a team who could be interested in LeBron James, given that they have two of his greatest co-stars of all time in Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving. Jason Kidd was also an assistant on the Lakers team that won a championship in 2020, so there would be a lot of familiarity.