The Los Angeles Lakers are going to make the playoffs with LeBron James in 2019, but if they're bent on competing for a championship as soon as possible, then team president Magic Johnson needs to supply his franchise player with more superstars.
As it stands now, the Lakers will win 50-something games and earn at least a top-five seed in the Western Conference. But with the Golden State Warriors looking more vulnerable than recent years, why should the Lakers wait around?
We know James is being patience with the Lakers' gradual process of building a championship contender. But with so many young assets to offer up in a trade - namely Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball - why should the Lakers decide to wait around much longer?
The Lakers shouldn't settle for simply being a 50-win team and top-five team in the West. They should try to win while James is in his prime.
Here are three superstars that should be on LeBron's holiday wishlist - the guys that Johnson should be looking to acquire in a trade.
Damian Lillard
Kyrie Irving is the only All-Star point guard LeBron has ever had. Imagine if the Lakers found a way to land Damian Lillard, who's arguably a better point guard than Irving.
In fact, it was reported by Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher that James told the Cleveland Cavaliers to offer up Irving for Lillard when the former requested a trade in the 2017 offseason. The Cavs obviously didn't listen, but you know just how much James wants the three-time All-Star on his side.
ESPN's Zach Lowe explained best why and how the Lakers should make a play for Lillard:
"The most enticing mega-trade on the board not involving Anthony Davis: Lillard to the Lakers for a package centered around Lonzo Ball. Lillard is a perfect fit next to LeBron, and LeBron respects Lillard's game, per sources familiar with the matter.
The Lakers could absorb Lillard into cap space this summer without sending out giant matching salaries -- salaries they don't have on the books."
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Though Lillard is keen on staying in Portland, you have to think the Trail Blazers will be open to moving their franchise star. They're not on the same level as other Western Conference powers like the Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder or Denver Nuggets.
Lillard would supply the Lakers with another star scorer whose skills would mesh well with James. The Trail Blazers would receive significant young assets in return, which would help them retool and hopefully reform as a title contender in a few years.
If there's one point guard the Lakers should go all-in on, it's undoubtedly Lillard.
Anthony Davis
No NBA superstar has been mentioned in trade rumors more this season than New Orleans Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis. Nobody knows for sure if he wants to be traded, or if Davis wants to stay with the Pelicans. It's truly anybody's guess right now.
But in all likelihood, the Pelicans will wind up trading their franchise star, who might not want to pass up on the opportunity to join a championship contender. Not only that, but New Orleans would receive a great return for their top player; at least three quality roster/young players and draft picks.
It's been mentioned many times that Davis would entertain the opportunity of playing alongside James. LeBron himself said that he would love to have Davis come over to Los Angeles.
RELATED: ANTHONY DAVIS SAYS HE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT LEBRON WANTING HIM TO JOIN THE LAKERS
Getting Davis would instantly put the Lakers on the same level as the Warriors. L.A. would have two legitimate MVP candidates; a pair of guys who can single-handedly take over and win games. If James and Davis can lead their own flawed teams to the playoffs, imagine what the two superstars could do on the court together?
The Lakers could offer everything to the Pelicans: A combination of Kuzma, Ball and Ingram along with draft picks. Did we mention Davis is only 25 and has so many prime years left?
It makes perfect sense in every aspect for the Lakers to go all-in and give the Pelicans all they want for Davis.
Kevin Durant
Ever since Kevin Durant had that post-game confrontation with Draymond Green back in November, there have been ongoing rumors that the latter is preparing to leave the Warriors in 2019 free agency.
It should be mentioned that ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said that the Lakers are one of the teams on Durant's short list, along with the Warriors and New York Knicks. Smith also said over the summer that James reached out to Durant about possibly teaming up in Laker Land.
Could the two best players of this era really team up together? Durant might decide he wants a new challenge after winning all these titles and NBA Finals MVP awards in Golden State. That core is bound to break up in free agency, with Klay Thompson and/or Green possibly leaving in the 2019 and 2020 offseasons, respectively.
Why wouldn't Durant want to play with James? He'd be joining a big market team, with a window to win now and in the next five years. And if James was able to recruit all of those stars to Miami and Cleveland, why can't he do the same in Los Angeles?
There are surely a handful of superstars on James' holiday wishlist, but Durant surely stands at the very top. We'll see if the Lakers can work their magic and find a way to bring him on board in 2019.
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