Hall of Famer says trading LeBron and Bronny to Cavs is the only way Luka can save the Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers made a trade to pair LeBron James with one of the most talented players in the NBA on Sunday. While Los Angeles had to give up big man Anthony Davis in the deal, the Lakers acquired Luka Doncic, who will join a long list of incredibly skilled players to suit up for the storied franchise.

With Doncic now in the fold, the Lakers are seemingly in an ideal position to contend in the Western Conference right now. However, former Boston Celtics star Paul Pierce argued that the only way the Lakers can save themselves is if they trade James and his son Bronny to the Cleveland Cavaliers and build around Doncic.

The elder James is one of the NBA’s all-time greats and has accomplished so much in the league, but at his advanced age, there’s a real argument that Doncic is the better player of the two. The Slovenian is averaging more points, rebounds and steals per game this season while serving as a similarly effective playmaker.

The Cavaliers also have plenty of valuable players who could theoretically help the Lakers win games now and in the future. Jarrett Allen would seemingly be a great addition for Los Angeles, especially now that Davis is no longer a member of the team.

Allen is only 26 years old and has been hugely impactful on both sides of the ball for a Cavaliers team with the best record in the league right now. He’s averaging a double-double of 13.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game across 48 appearances with Cleveland. Allen is shooting an impressive 70.5 percent from the floor to boot.

Outside of Allen, Sam Merrill and Ty Jerome stand out as pieces who could bolster the Lakers’ bench unit. Both players would plug a hole for Los Angeles in the sense that they score the ball effectively from 3-point range.

Time is running out for the Lakers to trade the elder James prior to the deadline. The trade deadline is only days away on Feb. 6, and the Lakers’ final game before then is scheduled for Feb. 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers.