Legend: James and Brownie go to the Nuggets in a massive exchange

According to Nico Martinez, a contributor to US sports media F/W. It’s no secret that the relationship between James and the Lakers has deteriorated to worryingly low levels as the 2025 NBA offseason continues. While James' deal is not imminent at the moment, it is not impossible for a suitable team to make a suitable offer this summer. If all goes well, the Nuggets are an organization that can make huge offers.

"This is another situation for the team to trade youngsters for James entering the 41-year-old season. It is another situation for the team that said may prefer this direction," wrote Dan Favale of Bleacher Report. "Murray will start his four-year, $207.8 million contract extension next season, and Watson is now eligible for a renewal. The Nuggets may welcome the additional long-term option that James's upcoming contract has come, especially with Braun coming to a new one."

Nuggets go all out to pursue the championship. With the addition of 2-time MVP Jokic, they are expected to be major players in the West in the coming years, but they may need more to match the league's elite contenders. And when James rethinks his future, there is a unique opportunity to acquire a true basketball legend. He has a year left on his contract, and a team like the Nuggets will be his perfect landing point for next season, but what will the deal actually look like? According to Favale, there will be multiple trading methods:

Nuggets receive: James, Brownie

Lakers receive: Murray, Holmes II, Watson, 2028 first-round draft pick swaps

Since the James and son are a package of trades, they will all be included in the trade, and the Nuggets will compensate by giving up Murray, Holmes, Watson and future first-round draft pick exchanges. Murray’s career average of 18.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists will be a big reward for the Lakers, who will form a deadly backfield duo with Doncic. Of course, if the Nuggets want to keep Murray, they will offer a package that includes their last first-round pick, along with Gordon, Johnson and Valanciunas to complement the Lakers’ frontcourt. Since many of these players have been traded recently, the team must wait at least until September 1 to close the deal.

Nuggets received: James, Brownie, Goodwin

Lakers received: Gordon, Johnson, Valanciunas, 2031 first-round draft pick

If the Nuggets don't want to give up Watson with an impressive skill cap, they may replace him with Braun, who can replace James with the Lakers and help Doncic stay stable on both ends of the offense and defense. Additionally, they can retain their first-round pick and provide a future second-round pick.

Nuggets received: James, Brownie

Lakers received: Murray, Holmes II, Braun, 2032 second-round draft picks

For a team that is only a few years away from the last championship, the Nuggets are increasingly eager to make moves to get themselves back to the competition. At this point, the choices for what they can do are limited, but James may be their possible solution, and his combination with Jokic has the potential to break the NBA.

While the James deal to Denver may still feel far-fetched, it exists financially, competitively, and emotionally. The Nuggets are motivated to make bold moves, and the Lakers may soon have reason to listen carefully. If things continue to worsen in Los Angeles, the combination of James and Jokic may change from fantasy to possibility. If it does happen, it will immediately become one of the most amazing duo in NBA history.