If Lakers Actually Consider LeBron James Trade, Nuggets, Knicks Make Sense As Suitors For NBA Star

The dysfunction inside the Los Angeles Lakers’ organization has gotten to the point that the idea of trading LeBron James no longer seems like an impossibility. While it remains highly unlikely that L.A. would actually deal the second-best NBA player of all time just one year into his contract, just about anything seems to be in play when it comes to the storied franchise these days.

Shortly after Tyronn Lue stunned the basketball world and turned down the Lakers head coaching job, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith reported that people close to Lakers owner Jeanie Buss are imploring her to trade James. It was only a couple of months ago when Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher said that Buss briefly considered the idea of moving on from James because of the debacle that ensued amid the Anthony Davis trade rumors.

It would be a mistake to be surprised by anything the Lakers do within the next few months.

Magic Johnson told reporters that he was stepping down as the team's president before even telling anyone in the organization. For some reason, Kurt Rambis and his wife Linda reportedly have a major influence on key Lakers decisions. Very little that the Lakers have done over the last few years has made a ton of sense.

So let's have a little fun and think of what a potential LeBron James trade might look like.

What would it take to acquire a player that could still potentially be the league's best next season? How many teams would make a legitimate offer for a superstar that's going to turn 35 years old?

These questions aren't easy to answer, especially considering the crazy summer that lies ahead. A bunch of teams are hoping to land at least one star, if not two, in free agency. The remainder of the playoffs could also affect the LeBron James trade market.

One specific team that remains in the postseason might make the most sense as a trade partner for the Lakers.

The Denver Nuggets are on the doorstep of reaching the Western Conference Finals. They probably don’t have what it takes to reach the NBA Finals. Maybe adding James would put them over the top and turn them into a legitimate championship contender.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst has noted on multiple locations that the Nuggets did all they could to try and secure a meeting with James last summer. James is good friends with Nuggets president Josh Kroenke, but he never considered going to Denver.

It wouldn’t be up to James this time, and the Nuggets have the kind of talent that might intrigue the Lakers.

Nikola Jokic would have to be off the table. He's almost 11 years younger than James and could finish third in the 2019 MVP voting. He's been just as good in the playoffs, nearly averaging a triple-double.

Jamal Murray is more expendable. The 22-year-old point guard averaged career-highs of 18.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game in the regular season. After a shaky first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs, he’s performed like a future star against the Portland Trail Blazers with averages of 24.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, in addition to making some big shots under pressure.

The Nuggets have a team option on Paul Millsap—who's been terrific against Portland—for a little over $29 million next season. Murray and Millsap for James works under the salary cap restrictions. Add in a draft pick and you might have a trade that could make sense for both sides.

There might be those within Denver's organization that would be opposed to trading a 22-year-old potential All-Star for James. On the other hand, the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty is likely coming to an end. The combination of James and Jokic could give the Nuggets as good of a chance as anyone to win the Western Conference in 2020.

No other team that’s still in the playoffs would be a realistic landing spot. There was speculation last summer that James might join the Houston Rockets, but they don’t have much to offer Los Angeles.

In order to find another trade partner for the Lakers, you might have to look at the NBA Draft Lottery. Zion Williamson will be the No.1 overall pick and immediately have more trade value than almost any player because of his incredible upside and affordable rookie contract.

Most teams that have a realistic shot at winning the lottery would be unlikely to trade Williamson for James. The Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls are rebuilding. Even the Cleveland Cavaliers would be better off keeping Williamson than trading him for a third union with James.

The New York Knicks had the NBA's worst record, but they don't plan on being bad for much longer. New York has designs on signing two star free agents—possibly Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving—so they can compete for a championship next year.

There's certainly no guarantee that the Knicks’ perfect free-agent scenario will pan out. Maybe they'll sign one of their top targets and not the other. Getting James through a trade would solve that problem.

The Knicks are already considered to be a top candidate to acquire Anthony Davis, whom the New Orleans Pelicans are expected to deal near the draft. The idea of a Durant-Davis pairing is one that many fans have been dreaming about. A Durant-James pairing instead would be a fine substitute.

New York would have to add in some other players to make the deal work under the salary cap rules, though that wouldn't be very difficult.

The 2019 offseason was already supposed to be one that might completely alter the NBA landscape, and even the slightest possibility that James could be had for the right price makes this summer that much more interesting.