Three-party heavy trading plan sends LeBron James to the Mavericks to form a new super team

According to reports from Vishvisha Kumar, a columnist of US sports media F/W. In a stunning proposal that rocks the deal rumours, Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposed a massive three-team deal that sent James to the Mavericks to form a super team with Davis, Irving and Flagg. If it becomes a reality, the deal could change the landscape of the Western Conference overnight.

Mavericks get: James

Lakers get: Anderson, Gafford, Marshall, Thompson, PJ Washington, 2029 Lakers first-round draft pick

Jazz get: Van Debiao, 2030 76ers second-round draft pick, 2032 Mavericks second-round draft pick

This idea was not born out of thin air. Reports have increasingly suggested that James' relationship with the Lakers has deteriorated, with some insiders saying they are "not in the best position" at the moment. He chose to sign for $51.4 million, initially promising to stay, but soon became vague after agent Ritchie Paul made a vague statement that hints that James was open to the transfer. While the Lakers have not yet publicly included him on the trade list, several league sources said the team sees his upcoming expiration contract as a bargaining chip rather than a long-term blueprint. The proposed deal reflects a team that is skillfully entering the next era. The Mavericks have their Dream Team. They add James, one of the greatest players of all time, to the roster already composed of Davis, Irving and the genius Flag. Health becomes the only real problem. James will be 41 years old, and AD’s durability has been a problem, and Irving is recovering from serious injuries. But if these stars are healthy, Dallas will immediately become the most dangerous team in the league.

Meanwhile, Flag was perfectly guided to absorb the game from three Hall of Famers. With James’ contract expiry in 2026, Dallas retains future flexibility. Whether they re-sign him or turn elsewhere, they will have a clean cap table available. The Lakers began a rebuild centered around Doncic, which added five qualified rotation players from them, with Washington and Gafford helping Dallas reach the 2024 Finals. Thompson and Marshall are capable veterans who can contribute immediately. Doncic now has more defensive support, shooting and depth, a key weakness that the Lakers are hard to solve. Gafford is a reliable rim guard, the only player with guaranteed funding after 2027, which allows the Lakers to keep their roster stable during a critical offseason.

Thompson can be traded before the deadline, and Anderson's contract is about to expire. PJ Washington either stayed as a long-term member or was traded. Perhaps most importantly, the Lakers have regained control of their own 2029 first-round draft pick, and Lakers insider Buha recently confirmed that Dallas’ interest in James has been a while since, especially because of his close relationship with Kai Irving and Davis, which makes things interesting. The Jazz continue their long-term rebuilding. For the Jazz, while absorbing Van Debiao’s remaining $37.3 million contract, it does so by picking two future second-rounders. If the Lakers were to invest another draft pick or cash, it would be effortless. And Van Debiao is only 25 years old and is a capable defensive forward when she is healthy. His contract is not a huge burden for the Jazz who don't want to win now, especially if they can stay and trade him later.

In short, this tripartite deal is in the win-win range

The Mavericks have lost their lineup depth, but have gained a window to win the championship in the next two years. If James, Davis and Irving stay healthy, they will be a defensive nightmare and the most favorable contender for the championship. The Lakers are building a team around Doncic, adding players who suit his style and regaining valuable draft assets. Most importantly, they don’t compromise the flexibility of the 2027 cap space. Jazz is still on the road to reconstruction, collecting assets and cost-controlled talents, and even Van Debiao may make a fortune in their system and bring more rewards. Overall, there are no losers in this tripartite transaction.