The Los Angeles Lakers “simply aren’t interested” in what the Dallas Mavericks could offer them for superstar small forward LeBron James, according to NBA insider Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving wants James to come to Dallas to play with him and star forward Luka Doncic. However, even if LeBron requested a trade to the Mavericks, the Lakers have no interest in making a deal.
“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,” Buha wrote. “If Dallas is offering Luka Dončić for James, then yes, one would assume the Lakers will listen.
“But aside from that, the Lakers aren’t going to trade James to the Mavericks. James could try to force their hand, but that would just likely lead to a messy power struggle.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
James signed a two-year extension with the Lakers last summer. He is 38 and has a torn tendon in his right foot. The four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP may need offseason surgery on his injured foot, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
“Lakers superstar LeBron James played the last few months with a torn tendon in his foot that could require surgery this offseason, league sources confirmed to The Athletic,” Charania wrote. “James will undergo further evaluations, but a surgery that could sideline him for two months during the offseason is among the possibilities, sources indicated. If surgery is required, James would be expected to recover by the start of training camp next season.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
James suffered his foot injury on February 26 against the Mavericks. The Akron Hammer was told by two doctors to undergo season-ending surgery, but James opted not to.
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