LeBron James is still widely expected to prioritize a return to the Los Angeles Lakers, but speculation surrounding his future continues to generate alternative roster-building scenarios across the league. If James were to depart in free agency, one proposed blueprint outlined by Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson envisions the Lakers using the resulting financial flexibility and acquired assets to construct a younger roster centered entirely around Luka Doncic.
The premise is straightforward: move from a dual-superstar model to a roster built specifically around Doncic’s strengths. The Lakers finished 53-29 in 2025-26, won the Pacific Division, and reached the Western Conference semifinals before being swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Despite the successful regular season, the four-game loss exposed concerns about perimeter defense, depth, and frontcourt versatility.
Doncic remains the centerpiece of any future plan. The 27-year-old averaged 33.5 points, 8.3 assists, and 7.7 rebounds in 64 games while earning First Team All-NBA honors and finishing fourth in MVP voting. Building around a player with that level of offensive responsibility naturally shifts organizational priorities toward defense, athleticism, and floor spacing.
Under Robinson’s proposal, the Lakers would use assets potentially obtained from a LeBron departure to pursue a trade package involving Brooklyn’s Nic Claxton and Terance Mann. Claxton would become the starting center, giving Doncic an elite lob threat and switchable defender. Mann would slide into a starting backcourt role alongside Doncic, providing perimeter defense against opposing guards.
A projected starting lineup could feature Doncic, Mann, rookie wing Trevon Brazile, Rui Hachimura, and Claxton. Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, Dalton Knecht, Jarred Vanderbilt, rookie Morez Johnson Jr., Nikola Vucevic, and Jaxson Hayes would headline the rotation.
The defensive emphasis is notable. Smart remains one of the league’s most respected perimeter defenders despite averaging just 9.3 points last season. Vanderbilt offers versatility across multiple positions, while Claxton would address rim protection concerns that surfaced against Oklahoma City. Johnson, whom Robinson projects as a sixth-overall selection, would add additional size with a reported 7-foot-3.5 wingspan.
Offensively, the objective would be maximizing Doncic’s playmaking environment. Kennard shot 44.8% from three-point range during the 2025-26 season, while Hachimura converted 44.3% of his attempts from deep. Claxton’s vertical spacing and Mann’s cutting ability could create additional driving lanes for Doncic, who already generated one of the league’s most productive offenses.
The financial side is equally important. The NBA’s current collective bargaining agreement has made it increasingly difficult for teams with multiple maximum-salary players to maintain roster depth. Moving off James’ salary slot could create pathways to add multiple rotation pieces rather than concentrating resources in a top-heavy roster.
Still, the scenario remains hypothetical. Recent reports indicate that returning to Los Angeles remains James’ preferred outcome. Golden State has emerged as a team with interest should he explore alternatives, while a return to Cleveland is viewed as significantly more complicated from a salary-cap perspective.
