LeBron James opting into his player contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, followed by a statement released by his agent, has fueled trade and buyout rumors for the last week. He wants the best possible chance to compete for a championship, and even though the Lakers now have Luka Doncic, the rest of the roster is discombobulated, at best.

The Dallas Mavericks are in an excellent situation after landing Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. When Kyrie Irving comes back fully healthy, the Mavericks have a roster ready to compete in the stacked Western Conference.