The Los Angeles Lakers have experienced a tumultuous period since winning the 2020 NBA championship. Alongside superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the team has gone through numerous coaching and personnel changes, leading to varying degrees of success. In one season, they made a run to the Western Conference Finals, while in another they slumped to the 11th seed in the West and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

The 2023-24 season was another disappointing one for the Lakers, as they finished with a 47-35 record and were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round against the Denver Nuggets. This has led to speculation about the team’s future, particularly with regards to LeBron James’ potential departure.

If the 38-year-old James decides not to exercise his $51.4 million player option for the 2024-25 season, he could leave the Lakers in search of what will likely be his final lucrative contract. This scenario would prompt a significant rebuilding effort for the organization.

In this hypothetical situation where LeBron departs, potentially to join his son Bronny, the Lakers may need to reconsider their roster, including the possibility of trading Anthony Davis. Analysts have suggested that the Atlanta Hawks could be a potential trade partner, with assets like Dejounte Murray, Clint Capela, and Bogdan Bogdanović potentially involved in a deal.

Such a trade could allow the Lakers to acquire young talent and draft capital to kickstart a rebuilding process, should LeBron James ultimately decide to leave the organization and pursue other opportunities in the latter stages of his illustrious career.