If they can’t build a title contender around him, could the Lakers try to build a title contender without him?

Almost certainly, no. But trading LeBron James is a thought ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy floated Saturday during Los Angeles’ latest loss, its fifth straight, this one at home to Boston, 120-107.

Year 1 has been Year Lost, the Lakers now 30-36, seven games back of the eight seed and accepting that, somehow, James will not be in the playoffs. LeBron missed extended time and the youth the Lakers have touted have not taken the necessary leaps — and they were not enough to pry Anthony Davis from the Pelicans at the trade deadline.

If the assets Los Angeles has been counting on to turn into superstars do not bloom, where does that leave the team and 34-year-old James, who signed a four-year deal last offseason?

The former Knicks coach believes the Lakers have to at least consider cashing in the best player in basketball instead of wasting him.

“I think in the offseason, they need to rebuild this roster, right?” Van Gundy said. “And to me, it could be a trade for an Anthony Davis, or I think they need to explore trading LeBron for getting as much as they can.”

Perhaps speaking for the world, Mark Jackson asked, “What are you doing, seriously?”

“You got to get on the right timeline,” Van Gundy said. “I’m going to say, if I could trade him for the Clippers into cap space, which would give me a better chance to get [Kevin] Durant or Kawhi Leonard, would I not do that? … You got to put everything on the table.”

Perhaps of note, LeBron does not have a no-trade clause in his $153.3 million pact. Regardless, the thought of the Lakers trading perhaps the best player of all time a season after they landed him is unthinkable to most (if not Van Gundy).