Three NBA Trade Ideas To Get Lakers’ LeBron James To Cavaliers

July 23, 2025

NBA analyst Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report created three trade ideas to get Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

LeBron will make $52.6 million next season in the final year of his contract. The NBA icon has a no-trade clause in his contract.

“Outside of making a championship run in the East with a core of James, Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, the Cavs’ current position as the only NBA team above the second apron puts a lot of team-building restrictions around them,” Swartz wrote. “A trade for James and his expiring $52.6 million contract would help alleviate that reality.

“A trade for James would need to send out enough salary to match his current contract and nearly an additional $20 million in salary to get below the second apron. It’s extremely tricky to do and would make the Cavs much thinner overall (and almost certainly require the Brooklyn Nets—with $28 million in cap space—to help complete).”

Trade 1

Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: F LeBron James, G Bronny James and save $24.1 million

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: PG Darius Garland, F De’Andre Hunter, G/F Max Strus

Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Jarred Vanderbilt, PG Gabe Vincent, 2031 first-round pick (via Los Angeles Lakers)

Trade 2

Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: F LeBron James, G Bronny James, 2027 first-round pick (top-2 protected from Dallas Mavericks, via Hornets) and save $27.4 million

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: PG Darius Garland, G/F Max Strus

Charlotte Hornets Receive: C Jarrett Allen

Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Grant Williams, F Dean Wade, 2027 first-round pick (lottery-protected from Miami Heat, via Hornets)

Trade 3

Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: F LeBron James, G Austin Reaves, C Walker Kessler, 2027 first-round pick (lottery-protected via Miami Heat) and save $27.2 million

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F Lauri Markkanen, F De’Andre Hunter, G/F Max Strus

Utah Jazz Receive: PG Darius Garland, F Maxi Kleber

Charlotte Hornets Receive: C Jarrett Allen

Brooklyn Nets Receive: F Grant Williams, F Jarred Vanderbilt, 2027 first-round pick (top-2 protected via Dallas Mavericks)

LeBron turns 41 in December. He’s the oldest active player in the NBA but still an elite force on offense.

The Akron native finished sixth in MVP voting and made the All-NBA Second Team last season.

LeBron has played for the Cavaliers twice. He’s the best player in franchise history and guided the organization to its only NBA title in 2016.