There is no doubt that LeBron James is one of the greatest players of all time, and has consistently been one of the most untradeable players in the league since his rookie season. No matter the package that was available, The King would never be dangled as trade bait. The reason was that the man was capable of carrying just about any team to championship contention, especially in his prime. But as he has aged, James’ impact has slightly waned even if his numbers look superstar level.
At age 37, James is in the final stages of his career, and teams looking to add The King must be looking to win now. The Los Angeles Lakers are in win-now mode but they might have to accept the fact that the roster is stuck as currently constructed because Russell Westbrook is an untradeable asset while Anthony Davis is looking more injury-prone by the season. With James heading to age 38 at some point next season, it is very possible that the Lakers could trade The King with the hopes of setting the team up for success next season and the years following.
To entertain that idea, here are the trade packages that each NBA team can possibly offer for LeBron James. While it is unlikely that a top-5 player of all time would ever be traded, as guys like Kobe Bryant received the same trade attention but never got traded, it would be interesting to consider the best and most realistic trade offer each NBA franchise could offer for potentially a two-year rental of LeBron James.
Atlanta Hawks
Trade Offer For LeBron James: John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, 2022 No. 16 Pick, 2024 First-Round Pick
The Atlanta Hawks suffered through a frustrating season this year, despite the presence of their All-NBA star Trae Young. Atlanta finished 8th in the East after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals last year and barely got into the playoffs that ended in a 5-game destruction at the hands of the Miami Heat. To pair Young with LeBron James and try their chances at the Finals, they will have to give up young star John Collins, sharpshooter Bogdan Bogdanovic, and valuable first-round picks. The Lakers can also field two shooting big men in Collins and Davis while giving Westbrook a consistent shooter.
Boston Celtics
Trade Offer For LeBron James: Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard
The Boston Celtics are fighting for a chance to return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010, and have an elite duo in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Together, they have led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals thanks to their two-way play. But to make a legitimate title run again next year, they might have to sacrifice Jaylen Brown and backup point guard Payton Pritchard to form arguably the best duo in the NBA with James and Tatum, two top-10 players in the game. Los Angeles also create a new Big Three that fit better together in Brown, Westbrook, and Davis.
Brooklyn Nets
Trade Offer For LeBron James: Kyrie Irving, 2023 First-Round Pick
The Kyrie Irving situation negatively influenced the Brooklyn Nets’ season, because they barely made the playoffs and were swept by the young Boston Celtics in the first round. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are one of the most talented duos in NBA history, but Kyrie cannot be trusted to stay focused on basketball. To relieve their headache, the Nets could swap Kyrie and a pick for LeBron James, with a chance to form one of the best duos with James and Durant. The Lakers also take a shot at creating their own Big Three while receiving a pick they could use.