Los Angeles Lakers small forward LeBron James is “not going” to the Dallas Mavericks to play with point guard Kyrie Irving and point-forward Luka Doncic next NBA season, according to Bill Rieter of CBS Sports.
Irving is recruiting James to the Mavericks, while LeBron wants to reunite with Uncle Drew on the Lakers.
“This is about leverage, or the misguided idea one or both of these stars can capture it,” Rieter wrote. “And, according to NBA league sources familiar with the situation, about a related message from Irving to the Lakers: Pay me if you want me, and expect no discounts.”
James signed a two-year extension with the Lakers last summer and Irving becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. The new CBA resembles a hard cap, making it very challenging to have three max players on a roster.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, LeBron James & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
“LeBron’s not going to Dallas,” one source told Rieter. “That doesn’t even make sense. This is about Kyrie telling (Lakers general manager) Rob (Pelinka) that he’s not taking a discount. And about LeBron trying to create some leverage.”
According to Jovan Buha of The Athletic, the Lakers aren’t interested in what the Mavericks could offer them for James. LeBron could ask for a buyout from Los Angeles and sign a cheap deal with Dallas. However, Buha — who covers the Lakers — doesn’t see that happening.
“The other avenue to get James to Dallas would be through a buyout, but multiple hurdles make that unrealistic as well,” Buha wrote. “James agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million extension with the Lakers in 2022 that will not kick in until this summer. Any player who is bought out could technically be picked up on waivers, but that team would have to be able to fit the player’s entire salary (in this case, James’ $46.9 million) on its cap sheet, not the amount he agrees to in a buyout. It would also require James to take a steep discount — the Lakers would have little to no incentive to have dead money on their cap sheet — and then sign in Dallas for far less than he would’ve been making.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, LeBron James & Los Angeles Lakers Updates
“James has made nearly $400 million in basketball salary through his NBA career. He’s made hundreds of millions through endorsements, partnerships, his production company and various business endeavors. But asking him to give up tens of millions of dollars still seems impractical.”
If James doesn’t retire from the NBA this summer, he will likely be back with the Lakers next season. His first son, Bronny, is playing college basketball at USC and his wife and two other kids love living in Los Angeles.
Want the latest in NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
