After the Los Angeles Lakers’ exit in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, LeBron James shocked the world with cryptic comments that hinted toward retirement. Many speculated that this was a message to LA’s front office to surround him with win-now talent, mainly former teammate Kyrie Irving.
But after Irving and the Lakers were linked for the longest time, a Monday morning tweet from insider Shams Charania suggests an attempt at the opposite: the duo reuniting on the Dallas Mavericks.
Sources: Kyrie Irving has reached out to Lakers star LeBron James in attempts to see if James would come to Dallas. Irving is a free agent this offseason.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 5, 2023
NBA Rumors: Kyrie Irving Pushing for LeBron James to Join Dallas Mavericks
LeBron’s Current Situation
James is under contract with the Lakers until 2024 when he has a Player Option for $57.6 million. The only way the “LeBron to Dallas” train leaves the station is if James requests a trade or a buyout from the one-year and $46.9 million remaining on his deal—the latter being an unlikely option. After a five-year tenure that has resulted in two conference finals appearances and one NBA championship, James jumping ship seems unlikely yet plausible. It comes down to several factors regarding what could steer him toward the Mavs.
What the Mavericks Could Offer
The latest report from Chris Haynes noted that the Mavericks tried to make an offer for James “while the Lakers were spiraling” before LA’s turnaround at the deadline. Now, as expected, Irving is priority number one this offseason, and the Mavericks hold the advantage. According to Eric Pincus, Dallas could offer Irving a five-year deal of up to $272 million, assuming their salary cap is $134 million.
Aside from Irving and Luka Doncic, the Mavericks have six players under contract for the 2023-24 season, any of whom could be moved to match James’s salary: Tim Hardaway Jr. ($17.8 million), Davis Bertans ($17 million), Maxi Kleber ($11 million), Reggie Bullock ($10 million non-guaranteed), JaVale McGee ($5 million), and Jaden Springer ($1.7 million).
They also have five future first-round picks until 2028 (including the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft) and a second-rounder in 2025. Several of those picks could be moved while still observing the Stepien Rule, which requires teams to have one first-round pick in at least every other draft.
Dallas’s Appeal and the Cost of Their Efforts
Looking past potential trades, the Mavericks offer James not only a reunion with Irving but, of course, the star services of Doncic, who considers James to be one of his idols. Additionally, they could reunite James with head coach Jason Kidd and assistant coach Jared Dudley, who respectively coached and played for the Lakers during their 2019-20 title run.
The possibility of a James-Irving-Doncic trio should spark fear in an already-loaded Western Conference. However, it would also leave the Mavericks with even less depth than when they landed Irving.
Dallas’s proposed big three would combine for $141.3 million and undoubtedly put them into the luxury tax given the new Collective Bargaining Agreement rules. It would also leave them essentially looking for scraps in a top-heavy roster, both contract-wise and talent-wise. With a team that is already struggling to retain players, this move would only do more harm than good, no matter how far owner Mark Cuban is willing to go.
The Lakers’ Perspective
Lost in the equation of these James to Dallas rumors is the Lakers’ perspective on the matter. In the team’s exit interviews, GM Rob Pelinka emphasized that keeping the core is a priority for this summer. Plus, Dallas’s assets are not necessarily appealing to the Lakers. They may fit some of the team’s needs, but it may not be worth it if it means parting ways with James.
The Lakers aim to re-sign their vital rotational players, and it appears they are preparing for next season with James in the picture. Trading their superstar has barely crossed their minds before, so it’s hard to believe they would do it now.
The Last Word on LeBron James to the Mavericks
Above all, LeBron James joining the Mavericks seems untenable for all sides. The Mavericks would be sacrificing their entire roster for a season or two of this “big three.” The Lakers would be better off keeping the band together after their recent playoff run. If James and Irving are serious about a reunion, they’ll have to figure out how to do it without causing substantial damage to either of their current teams, which, as of right now, does not seem possible.
