NBA Rumors: LeBron James Lakers-Mavs Trade Called 'Unrealistic' Despite Kyrie Buzz
It would be rather surprising if LeBron James was on the Dallas Mavericks next season, even if that is what former teammate Kyrie Irving reportedly wants.
Bleacher Report's Chris Haynes reported Monday that Irving prefers the Mavericks to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers superstar via trade so they could form a new Big Three alongside Luka Dončić.
However, Jovan Buha of The Athletic cited a source with the Lakers who called such a possibility "unrealistic" in large part because Dallas doesn't have the pieces to land one of the best players in NBA history.
"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," Buha wrote. "The Lakers simply aren't interested in what Dallas could offer in a trade, according to multiple team sources."
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium also reported on the situation, noting Irving "reached out" to James to see if he would want to come to Dallas.
That the point guard is seemingly focused on bringing the King to the Mavericks is notable since he is a free agent this offseason. It hints at a potential preference to remain in Dallas, especially since the team can offer him more money than any others.
From the Mavericks' perspective, they would surely love a chance to have James, Irving and Dončić play together in 2023-24.
After all, they went 8-12 with Irving on the court last season after acquiring him via trade from the Brooklyn Nets. They tumbled down the standings and missed the playoffs and play-in tournament entirely, lending a sense of urgency to this offseason with Dončić in his prime as one of the league's best players.
Irving and James also know what it takes to win a championship together. They did so in 2016 when they were on the Cleveland Cavaliers despite falling behind 3-1 to the record-setting 73-win Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.
There also seems to be a willingness to play together again, as Buha noted "James made it known last summer, and ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline, that he wanted Irving in Los Angeles next to him and Anthony Davis."
For his part, Irving previously expressed regret for how things ended in Cleveland.
Still, the Lakers are presumed championship contenders next season after reaching the Western Conference Finals with a revamped roster. Losing James to a Western Conference rival in particular would greatly diminish their chances to compete for the league's ultimate prize.
It would likely take more than a long list of role players and some draft compensation from Dallas to convince them to trade the future Hall of Famer.
