In an unexpected twist reported by Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, star point guard Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks has been actively pursuing his former teammate LeBron James from the LA Lakers. The aim is to form a formidable trio alongside the Mavericks’ sensational guard Luka Doncic. James has openly expressed his eagerness to reunite with Irving, harkening back to their successful partnership in Cleveland.
Haynes mentioned, “LeBron has made it clear as recently as February’s trade deadline that he’d be open to playing alongside his former teammate.”
“James, 38, has one year of $46.9 million remaining on his contract and also holds a $50.6 million player option for the 2024-25 season. The four-time MVP is expected to return for his 21st season.” (an article from sportskeeda.com reported)
Despite speculation about LeBron James accepting a buyout from the Lakers, it seems improbable as it would entail a significant reduction in salary to join the Mavericks. Hence, trade becomes a more realistic scenario for his potential move to Dallas. However, Jovan Buha of The Athletic believes that a trade involving James between the Mavericks and Lakers is highly unlikely due to Dallas’ lack of trade assets, making a deal seemingly out of reach.
Buha said, “If James were to demand a trade, and the Lakers were to entertain offers, it would take more than a package of, say, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dāvis Bertāns, Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, the No. 10 pick in the 2023 draft and another future first to get a deal done,”
“The Lakers simply aren’t interested in what Dallas could offer in a trade, according to multiple team sources.” (an article from sportskeeda.com reported)
While acquiring LeBron James may not be a viable option for the Dallas Mavericks this offseason, there are alternative strategies to bolster their roster. According to renowned NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavs aim to secure Kyrie Irving’s services in the upcoming free agency period. Furthermore, the team actively explores a win-now trade scenario by leveraging their valuable No. 10 pick in this year’s highly anticipated draft.
Stein mentioned, “Sources say that Dallas has not wavered from its hope and intent to re-sign Irving in free agency and pursue further potential win-now roster upgrades via trade packages built around the 10th overall pick in the June 22 draft.” (an article from sportskeeda. com mentioned)
Targeting a reliable three-point shooter would provide spacing for their offense, opening up driving lanes for Luka Dončić and creating additional scoring opportunities. By addressing these needs, the Mavs can fortify their roster and elevate their chances of success in the highly competitive NBA landscape.