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LeBron James is finally seeing some decline in his game, but in a different situation, there’s no doubt he could still get it done. A trade could involve Klay Thompson, but that should be a small price to pay because the former Splash Brother is shooting well below his career averages.

There’s no doubt what James could bring to the court each night. He’s still capable of getting downhill, bullying his defenders in the post, and either knocking down the three-pointer or a fadeaway jumper.

Additionally, James’ playmaking skills and basketball IQ are second to none. Bringing those intangibles to a team featuring Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving will help bring the Mavs over the top, especially on the game’s biggest stage.

James may struggle to get through the regular season like he was once able to, but Doncic and Irving have him covered in that regard. The four-time MVP has a proven track record playing next to Irving, as both won a championship together with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.

James also has a relationship with Dallas coach Jason Kidd, who was an assistant on the Lakers when they won a championship in 2020. Doncic and James could co-lead the Mavs’ offense given their respective playmaking skills and knack for picking their spots to score the ball.

Considering all of this, the Mavs might be the most ideal team for James to be traded to if he wants a shot at a fifth ring.

One possibility is Sixers alum Josh Richardson. The Miami Heat guard didn’t exactly have the best time on the Sixers during his first go-round, but if the Sixers brought him back, he wouldn’t have nearly as big a role as he did when the Sixers brought him in for the 2020 season. FanSided predicted him as a guard who could replace McCain for the time being.

On paper, Richardson would bring ball handling, perimeter defense, and a streaky jumpshot. He wouldn’t replace what McCain brought, but he could cover some of the holes that McCain’s absence would rip open.

Richardson is also inexpensive, as he’s owed $3 million this season. A straight-up swap for Eric Gordon would get a trade done.

The Heat haven’t played Richardson much this season
Richardson has been in the Heat’s doghouse since November 18, so his trade value is next to nil. However, he is also coming off a season-ending shoulder injury from last season, so re-discovering his old self may have led to his slow start thus far.

It’s also possible Richardson just needs a change of scenery. Perhaps a bigger role on a team he’s played with before could rejuvenate his career.

The 76ers aren’t really in a position to be picky. They will likely be active in the trade market, which means they’ll want cheap help, too. Richardson is not the player McCain is, but if Philadelphia traded him, expectations would firmly be at being a placeholder.

But who would OKC have to give up for Butler?

“With (Butler’s) $48 million contract set to expire, the buzz around his future is heating up, and teams like the Warriors, Rockets, Mavericks, and Suns have all been mentioned as possible destinations,” Leiva said.

“But here’s where things get interesting—the Oklahoma City Thunder are sitting at the top of the Western Conference with a 20-5 record … Bringing in a star like Butler could be the piece that takes them over the top.”

“The Thunder also have a treasure chest of assets to work with, including young players and a mountain of draft picks. This puts them in a prime position to offer a deal that other teams simply can’t match. Adding Butler to their already exciting core could make OKC the team to beat in the West.”

Leiva envisioned OKC sending the Heat the following package for Butler: Isaiah Joe, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso, and four picks (2022 first via Utah Jazz, 2025 first via Heat, 2026 second, 2028 second).

“The Miami Heat would be getting a solid mix of young talent and valuable draft picks,” Leiva said. “The inclusion of two first-round picks in 2025 and additional second-rounders in 2026 and 2028 provides Miami with the flexibility to build for the future or use as assets in further trades.”

“On the flip side, the Oklahoma City Thunder, leading the Western Conference, would be adding a seasoned veteran in Butler. … Imagine a lineup of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jimmy Butler, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein. That’s a blend of star power, versatility, and defensive intensity that screams superteam.”

Butler is in year two of a three-year, $146.4 million deal, which has a player option for next season that Butler has indicated but not officially said he might decline.

Lakers GM Rob Pelinka needs to realize that LeBron’s trade value is a rapidly diminishing entity. Dealing James now might be wise, and though LeBron has a no-trade clause, he might not exercise it if he’s dealt to a contender.

Enter the Houston Rockets — one of the only contenders in the NBA with enough first-round draft capital to pull off a deal for LeBron.

To make the money work, Houston could send Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Cam Whitmore to the Lakers for LeBron, Bronny, and Jarred Vanderbilt.

Adams and VanVleet would legitimately fill holes on the Lakers roster and help keep them afloat in the playoff race. There’s no reason a core of VanVleet, Austin Reaves, Dalton Knecht, Davis, and Adams can’t still be a good NBA basketball team.

The Lakers could basically ask Houston for an ungodly amount of first-rounders (four?), which would completely set them up for the post-LeBron future.

Unless LA thinks they are going to turn things around and a 40-year-old LeBron can will himself through a deep playoff run, this would be a smart trade for the Lakers.

LeBron was for many years someone you absolutely don’t trade under any circumstances, but that’s no longer the case.

Grant would also be a great backup to Jayson Tatum. Tatum would have more time to rest while Grant goes out and uses his athleticism and versatility on both sides of the ball to keep up the pressure on opposing teams.

This trade would benefit both teams, with the Celtics getting immediate help to maximize their championship window, and the Blazers getting picks and young talent to begin their rebuild.

Should the Celtics do this trade? Hopefully, but probably not. Their problems with the luxury tax would not be solved by adding a guy with a $160 million dollar contract.

However, he would make them the best team in the league, period. So, it’s really up to the Celtics front office to decide at the deadline.

Boston is relying on 38-year-old Al Horford to be at his best for another long playoff run, especially because Kristaps Porziņģis can’t be relied upon to stay healthy, with all due respect to his immense talent.

After missing the first 20 games of the season recovering from last season’s injury, Porziņģis left Sunday’s game versus the Washington Wizards with a heel ailment, the severity of which has not been determined or announced.

Porziņģis is a great player and person, but his body has a tendency to break down every few months, which is problematic for the Celtics.

Should Brad Stevens consider trading Porziņģis before his stock falls to an untradeable degree or he becomes unplayable due to further injuries?

Given Boston’s absurd talent at guard and on the wing, it would be a crying shame if the Celtics fell short of a second consecutive title merely because they were too thin up front.

What if Stevens decided to make a bold move and give up on Porziņģis’s crazy ceiling in favor of a more reliable center … like Steven Adams from the Houston Rockets?

By trading a talent like KP to Houston, Brad could also ask for plenty of additional assets from the Rockets, including a first-round pick and one of its young, secondary stars like Jabari Smith Jr.

A package of Adams, Smith Jr. (or Reed Sheppard, depending on who Stevens prefers), and Cam Whitmore for Porziņģis works financially.

The Rockets might be willing to take a risk on Porziņģis; if he stays healthy, he’s a player who could help them seriously contend in the Western Conference playoffs.

On the Celtics’ side, Adams would provide exactly the kind of reliable center they need to hold down the position for a return to the Finals. Smith Jr. and Whitmore are two talented wings who would provide youth and elite athleticism off the bench (Smith Jr. now, Whitmore in the future), which is convenient considering another weakness of Boston’s (though there aren’t many) is a lack of athletic wing depth.

Then there is a first-round pick (or two, if Stevens can pull it off), which would help Boston start building for the latter portion of the Jays’ primes.

Trading Porziņģis would lower the Celtics’ ceiling, no doubt. But this trade would raise their floor in the present, and for a team that basically proved last year that they can contend for a title without KP, raising the floor might be the best way to ensure Banner 19.

Porziņģis is in year one of a two-year, $60 million veteran extension.