The Lakers acquired Luka Dončić at the trade deadline. Dončić is 26. If the Lakers manage their roster around him properly, they could contend with him for the next 8-10 years. James might only have 8-10 months.

"Since James makes more than any other Cavs player ($52.6 million), the Cavaliers cannot aggregate contracts since they are over the second apron. The only way for Cleveland to trade for James would be to send out enough salary to match his contract and get under the second apron, a line they are currently $18.7 million above.

LeBron James made the surprising decision to pick up his $52.6 million player option instead of signing a new max deal with the Los Angeles Lakers.