Who says no? This would be a post September 7th trade due to John Collins recently trade restrictions.

In this hypothetical trade, LeBron and Bronny James are sent to the Clippers in a wild 3-team deal with the Lakers and Wizards. The Clippers pull it off without giving up Kawhi, Harden, nor Zubac. The Lakers receive John Collins, Marcus Smart, Corey Kispert, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nicolas Batum, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2031 second-rounder. The Wizards take on Rui Hachimura, Maxi Kleber, and Cam Christie, and in return get a 2032 first-round pick (top-10 protected) and a 2032 second from the Clippers.

In this hypothetical trade, the Clippers go all-in without sacrificing their main core, adding LeBron James and his son Bronny to a roster that already features Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Ivica Zubac, and Brook Lopez. By giving up John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nicolas Batum, and a couple second-round picks, they consolidate depth to create a veteran-heavy contender centered on LeBron, Kawhi, and Harden, while also giving Bronny a development runway behind established guards.

For the Lakers, this is a post-LeBron retool. They bring in five legitimate rotation players, John Collins gives them a mobile big to pair with Ayton, Marcus Smart brings defense and leadership in the backcourt, Kispert and Bogdanovic add high-level shooting around Luka, and Batum is a steady vet on an expiring deal. The two second-round picks are extra flexibility, and they now have a deeper, more versatile roster built for the long haul with Luka as the clear face of the franchise.

Washington’s role is taking on unwanted salary (Rui, Kleber, Cam Christie) in exchange for a protected 2032 first-round pick and a second-rounder from the Clippers. For a rebuilding team with cap space, it’s a typical long-term play, absorb salary, grab future assets, and see if any of the incoming pieces stick.