One NBA writer believes Kyrie Irving won’t last the entire 2023-24 season on the Dallas Mavericks. Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report thinks Irving will eventually wind up on the Los Angeles Lakers and reunite with LeBron James.
“Some around the league believe Irving will eventually make his way back to LeBron James, whom he reportedly pushed the Mavericks to trade for this past summer, per B/R’s Chris Haynes,” Swartz wrote. “His comments seem to indicate he explored a potential reunion, but he ultimately took a bigger paycheck in Dallas instead. Getting paid first and then forcing your way to another destination is the new normal in today’s NBA.
“The Mavs will ultimately do what Luka Dončić wants, which is keeping Irving as his co-star and sidekick for now. But if Dallas gets off to another sub-.500 start and appears to be in danger of missing the playoffs once again (a real possibility in a loaded West), Irving could once again wind up on the trade market. If (when?) things go south for Irving in Dallas, expect the All-Star point guard to wind up on the Lakers.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks Updates
The Lakers tried to acquire Irving after the superstar requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets last season. Los Angeles offered Brooklyn a package of Russell Westbrook and two first-round picks in 2027 and 2029 for Irving, who wound up getting traded to the Mavericks.
Irving and LeBron were a terrific duo together on the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014-15 to 2016-17. LeBron put up 25.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game alongside Irving, while Uncle Drew averaged 22.1 points and 5.3 assists next to The King.
Irving has a 15% trade kicker in his new contract with the Mavericks, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. A trade kicker is the percentage of a player’s salary that is awarded as a bonus in the event of a trade. Irving re-signed with Dallas on a three-year, $126 million contract on the first day of free agency this offseason.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks Updates
Irving has career NBA averages of 23.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists with the Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Nets and Mavericks. He’s won one NBA championship and made three All-NBA teams. As long as LeBron is on the Lakers, Irving will be heavily linked to the purple and gold.
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