Lakers Predicted To Land $91 Million All-Star Center in Blockbuster Trade To Fuel LeBron James’ Last Championship Push

The NBA offseason is approaching a chaotic phase with the draft and free agency looming. For the Lakers, the priority is elevating their playoff roster into Western Conference favorites amid LeBron James' impending retirement, though no timeline is set. Their championship window reopened after acquiring Luka Dončić in February's blockbuster trade that sent Anthony Davis to Dallas, but they still require an established frontcourt anchor, potentially an All-Star from an underachieving team.

The Cavaliers finished as the East's top seed (64-18) but fell in the conference semifinals, prompting anticipated roster changes. With Evan Mobley's youth making him untouchable, Jarrett Allen could be traded first. Analyst Ismail Sy proposes a blockbuster where Cleveland sends Allen to Los Angeles for Dorian Finney-Smith, Dalton Knecht, and an unprotected 2031 first-round pick. Finney-Smith would bolster Cleveland's wing defense and three-point shooting (41.1% last season), while Knecht offers youth, facilitating Mobley's ascension.

For the Lakers, losing Finney-Smith weakens wing depth but parting with Knecht and the 2031 pick is manageable, especially since Dončić will helm the team by then. Allen's three-year, $91 million contract aligns perfectly between the James and Dončić eras. If James retires in 2027, Allen would still have two seasons under contract to integrate with Dončić. At 26, Allen is a premier rim protector (16.5 PPG, 10.5 RPG pre-injury last season), making him a low-risk long-term fit alongside the Slovenian superstar.