James is infamously passive-aggressive, and it certainly feels like this is the beginning of the end of his time with the Lakers, one way or another. The franchise is now building for and around Luka Doncic, as Doncic is 26 and could have a decade of elite basketball in a Purple and Gold uniform left in him.

The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers are notorious trade partners after the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis swap in February. However, the two sides could combine on an even bigger deal this offseason.