This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/mavericks as Shocking proposed 3-team trade sends LeBron James from Lakers to Mavericks. The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers are notorious trade partners after the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis swap in February. However, the two sides could combine on an even bigger deal this offseason.

The Los Angeles Lakers no longer orbit around LeBron James. That baton was passed as soon as L.A. finalized the trade that sent out James' handpicked sidekick, Anthony Davis, to acquire Luka Dončić, a 26-year-old megastar more than capable of piloting the Purple and Gold well past the LeBron era.

The Los Angeles Lakers are preparing for a pivotal 2025-26 season with LeBron James and Luka Dončić at the helm, but it's become apparent that the franchise will be more attentive to the latter of the duo moving forward.