Proposed 3-Team Trade Has Lakers Land $109 Million Star for LeBron James

Things are getting quite interesting regarding LeBron James’ future with the Los Angeles Lakers. NBA rumors are swirling about potential blockbuster deals for James amid his apparent discontent in Hollywood.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Ramona Shelburne reported that the Lakers have an “end date” in mind for James after not offering the superstar a contract extension. Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell proposed a wild three-team trade pitch involving the Lakers, Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks.

The main part of the deal has the Lakers swapping James for former No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins. Let’s take a look at the full trade pitch details.

In addition to Wiggins, Los Angeles also lands Terry Rozier, Haywood Highsmith, Jaime Jaquez Jr, and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick. The Heat bring James back to Miami along with Maxi Kleber and Vit Krejci. For helping facilitate the three-team blockbuster deal, the Hawks net Gabe Vincent.

Let’s dive into how this deal would play out for the Lakers, Heat and Hawks.

Lakers Rumors: NBA Trade Pitch Deals LeBron James to Pair Andrew Wiggins With Luka Doncic

Losing James is less than ideal, but landing Wiggins at least gives the Lakers another star to pair alongside Luka Doncic. It will be challenging to assess James’ trade value given the star’s deal expires in 2026, and it is unclear if the legend wants to play beyond this season. Wiggins’ four-year, $109 million contract is slated to go through the 2026-27 season.

“Wiggins would fit nicely alongside Doncic and Reeves, and could even be brought back if things go well this season,” Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell wrote in a July 12, 2025, story titled, “New Blockbuster Three-Team Trade Proposal Sends LeBron James to Miami, Andrew Wiggins To The Lakers.”

“Highsmith is a really good defender and might be the top perimeter defender on the Lakers instantly. Perhaps JJ Redick can get Jaquez back to the level he was playing at during his rookie season and get something out of Rozier as well as he enters the last year of his deal. The 2029 pick could be very valuable.”

The Lakers Plan to Move on From LeBron James in 2026: Insider

In case this was not abundantly clear by James’ cryptic message released by agent Rich Paul, the superstar is not on the best terms with the Lakers. The early signs point to James playing elsewhere in 2026, if the superstar intends to continue his career.

“Paul also had to formally inform the Lakers that James intended to pick up the final year of his contract after the team did not engage in any substantial discussions about extending him by a year or two, sources said, as they had done twice previously during James’ Lakers’ tenure,” Windhorst and Shelburne detailed in a June 11, story titled, “LeBron James to Luka Doncic: Inside the most delicate superstar transition in NBA history.” “It was then that he let the organization know about the coming statement.

“The Lakers had already made their statement in not offering James a contract beyond this season. It was abundantly clear that the 21-time All-Star’s time as the face of the Lakers had, for the first time, a planned end date, even if James’ record-setting NBA career did not yet,” Windhorst and Shelburne added.

“Whether the 2025-26 season is to be James’ final season in the NBA is up to him. But if he wanted the kind of Hollywood ending that only the Lakers can give legends of the game, the release date was set. Spring 2026. Luka Doncic in, LeBron James out.”