The Dallas Mavericks were preparing to make an offer for Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James this NBA season when the Lakers were struggling, according to Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.
Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving wants to play with James again. LeBron signed a two-year extension with the Lakers last summer and was ineligible to be traded during the 2022-23 season because the second year of his extension exceeds a 5% raise.
Irving wants the Mavericks to explore trading for James this offseason to create a Big 3 alongside himself and Luka Doncic. LeBron, 38, can be traded this summer.
“A new twist has emerged in the LeBron James-Kyrie Irving reunion plot, as league sources have told Bleacher Report Irving wants the Dallas Mavericks to explore trading for LeBron James this offseason to create a Big 3 alongside himself and Luka Doncic,” Haynes reported. At this point, it’s no secret Irving and James are open to a reunion from their days playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron has made it clear as recently as February’s trade deadline that he’d be open to playing alongside his former teammate.
“The Mavericks were preparing to make an offer for James last season when the Lakers were spiraling, sources say. But the Lakers made a string of trades near the deadline that changed the trajectory of their season.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
Irving becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer and the Mavericks plan to do whatever it takes to re-sign the All-Star. Irving averaged 27.0 points in 20 games with Dallas after the Brooklyn Nets trade.
However, the Mavericks were only 5-11 in games Doncic and Irving played together this season. That was the worst winning percentage (.313) for a pair of teammates who were both All-Stars since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976-77, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
In order for Irving and James to partner with Doncic, the two champions would have to take a sizable pay cut.
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