LeBron JamesCole Burston/Getty PhotosThe Los Angeles Lakers might have a huge free-agent query of their own if LeBron James declines his $51.4 million participant option for the 2024-25 season. But if James continues his profession in L.A. with Anthony Davis, the Lakers reportedly plan to go looking for a third star this summer time, in accordance with Jovan Buha of The Athletic.Any crew that trades for Mitchell would need assurances that he’ll signal an extension after the necessary six-month ready period or re-sign as a free agent in 2025. Given the Lakers’ market and James’ age, the franchise would most likely really feel assured about promoting a Mitchell/Davis long-term pairing.The Lakers are hard-capped the primary apron ($172.3 million) by the remaining of this league yr, so any Mitchell commerce should wait till July. The New Orleans Pelicans have the correct to take both the Lakers’ 2024 or 2025 first-round choose, however the Lakers can commerce the opposite one. They also can offer two extra first-rounders (2029 and 2021) and up to 5 second-rounders after this yr’s draft.In phrases of outgoing gamers, the Lakers can attain Mitchell’s wage with D’Angelo Russell (if he picks up his $18.7 million participant option) and Rui Hachimura. Other mixtures might embrace gamers like Austin Reaves, Gabe Vincent and Jarred Vanderbilt, together with lower-paid gamers like Jalen Hood-Schifino, Maxwell Lewis, Christian Wood, Jaxson Hayesand Cam Reddish. To be dealt, the final three must choose up their respective participant choices.The Lakers should ship no less than $35.4 million in outgoing wage to keep away from a 2024-25 laborious cap on the first apron (projected to be $178.7 million). That outgoing quantity can dip to $28.1 million in the event that they’re prepared to be hard-capped, however that is perhaps impractical if James returns within the $50 million vary.The NBA’s new collective bargaining additionally usually eradicated groups’ capability to throw in more than one minimal contract for salary-matching functions during the offseason. For instance, the Lakers can solely ship one of Lewis, Wood, Hayes or Reddish to achieve the $28.1 million or $35.4 million outgoing wage to take back Mitchell.