A report shocked the NBA world recently with suggestions that Kyrie Irving is trying to recruit LeBron James to join the Dallas Mavericks.
The Mavericks already have a young superstar, Luka Doncic, and they added Kyrie Irving at the trade deadline. Getting LeBron would give them a Big 3, but it doesn’t seem like the Los Angeles Lakers are interested at all.
“If Dallas is offering Luka Doncic for James, then yes, one would assume the Lakers will listen,” Jovan Buha reported for The Athletic. “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.”
Mikal Bridges Reflects On Getting Traded From HisHometown Philadelphia 76ers: “That Kinda Messed Me Up”
Anthony Davis Won’t Get Long-Term Extension From Lakers This Summer, Says NBA Insider
There is no way the Dallas Mavericks would ever trade Luka Doncic. He is a 4-time All-NBA First Team selection at the age of 24, has led the team to the Western Conference Finals, and is a perennial MVP candidate. The Lakers reportedly suggesting that he would have to be included in a deal is like them shutting the door on any possible chance of it happening.
LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Kyrie Irving all like to have the ball in their hand and all of them are elite scorers. How the three of them would fit together is hard to see, even on paper. Even if the Lakers did become willing to trade James to the Mavs for a package other than Doncic, there’s no guarantee that it would work out.
Luka Doncic Would Likely Not Be Pleased With Kyrie Irving Trying To Bring In LeBron James
Luka Doncic has become the man in Dallas, even after the arrival of Irving, it was clear that he is the superstar of the franchise. And the reports about James might not be to his liking, with Chris Broussard outlining why.
“If I’m Luka, I’m none too pleased. If I’m Luka, I really don’t wanna play with LeBron. But still, If I’m young like Luka, I’m like, ‘Nah, I got this. We were rolling, we were tied for fifth before the Kyrie trade, and then I see this stuff. I see Kyrie trying to dictate what we’re going to do.’ Now I’m really like, ‘You know what? Let me talk to Cuban and say sign-and-trade Kyrie for some depth.’ … It’s my team if I’m Luka Doncic.”
It’s an interesting spot for the Dallas Mavericks to be in because LeBron James has been the best player in the league for nearly two decades now. However, they have their superstar, and they certainly wouldn’t want to risk him leaving over acquiring James.
