Rumors: Mavericks could make two trades to form incredible big three

Bradley Lockett

Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, Nico Harrison / SOPA Images/GettyImages

The Dallas Mavericks look to close out the No. 1 seed, Oklahoma City Thunder, on Saturday in the sixth game of the Western Conference Semifinals. Dallas is coming off a big Game 5 win behind a dominant performance from Luka Doncic, and they are in the perfect position to advance to the Western Conference Finals.

During the playoffs, we've seen the 2024 NBA Draft process commence. Between the draft lottery and combine, there's been a lot of buzz for incoming rookies.

For example, Bronny James and how his game might translate better to the NBA than it did in college. He's looked exceptional in pre-draft workouts, as he prioritizes modeling his game after premier 3-and-D players.

Mavericks could draft Bronny James to try to lure LeBron James to Dallas

It's speculated between NBA fans, media, and front offices that LeBron James wants to play with his son and that drafting him could land you both LeBron and Bronny.

Stephen A. Smith reported that the Mavericks could steal Bronny James in the second round before the Los Angeles Lakers (by trading up), ultimately trying to bring LeBron in with him.

Stephen A. Smith is hearing that the Mavericks have interest in drafting Bronny James

“But here’s a newsflash, what I’ve also heard. Bronny James may not make it to the Lakers’ second round pick. Because if a team like the Dallas Mavericks could position themselves to get him in… pic.twitter.com/zo5Y6tAoko
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 15, 2024

There hasn't been anything linking LeBron to Dallas other than the innocent recruiting Kyrie Irving did last season when his future was up in the air. The Mavericks would likely have to do a sign-and-trade for LeBron to get him to Dallas.

The big three of LeBron, Doncic, and Irving would wreak havoc on the Western Conference if this were to happen. The Mavericks still have a postseason to complete before thinking of their offseason moves, but seeing players like Bronny James rise their draft stock is always exciting.

Dallas drafting Bronny would be the perfect recruiting pitch to try to make LeBron a Maverick, and this may be a move that Nico Harrison has up his sleeve this summer. It's clear that LeBron wants to play with Luka and Kyrie at some point, and this would form the greatest big three of all time.

Doncic continues to battle injuries, but the team could just have enough momentum to take down the Thunder.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Dallas Mavericks and the 2024 NBA Draft.

Bradley Lockett

Bradley Lockett is a contributor for The Smoking Cuban, where he has been covering the Dallas Mavericks since October 2023. With a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Marketing from Texas State University, his background in sports runs deep. A former collegiate football player at Western Colorado University and a multi-sport athlete in high school, his firsthand experience on the field fueled his passion for sports media. Bradley brings unique insight to Mavericks coverage, specializing in game analysis and reader engagement, connecting with fans through in-depth breakdowns and compelling storytelling. Outside of writing, he enjoys traveling, socializing with friends, and watching almost every sport imaginable.