By: Anthony Miller
The Dallas Mavericks look to reload after a disappointing season of missing the playoffs which could potentially mean the addition of one of the best players in the NBA.
NBA insider Shams Charania reported Monday that Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving reached out to Los Angeles Lakers forward Lebron James about potentially joining Dallas in the offseason. Irving is going to be a free agent in the offseason, but James is still under contract with the Lakers so a trade would have the be facilitated between Dallas and Los Angeles.
Irving started last season with the Brooklyn Nets before being traded to Dallas back in February. Before the Irving trade, Dallas was at 28-26 and in the playoff hunt. They went 9-18 after the trade and missed the playoffs. He finished the season averaging 27 points, six assists, and five rebounds per game. Irving is an unrestricted free agent, but the Mavericks plan on trying to bring him back.
As for James, he finished the regular season averaging 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game in 55 games played. The Lakers made a run in the playoffs before getting swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. James has one more year of his $46.9 million contract remaining but has a player option that is worth over $50 million for the 2024-2025 season.
Should the Dallas Mavericks Trade for Lebron James?
It’s an interesting dilemma as James can play at a high level. There are not many doubts he’s still one of the best players in the NBA and can improve any team. He’s a well-rounded player who can score, rebound, and distribute the ball to his teammates. It would be an upgrade for the starting lineup for the Mavericks.
The flip side to that is that even if a trade would happen, the Mavericks would have to give up so much to bring him in that he is still one of the top players in the league. Dallas had to surrender Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, and multiple draft picks for Irving, the two players who were key role players for the team. Their options for trade pieces for James are limited. They can’t afford to lose any more players with what they have.
This offseason, the team needs to focus on bringing Irving back first off as he is a key contributor to the team and will be a good second-star player for Luka Doncic. After that, the team must find a big man in the paint who can rebound and play good post-defense. While James is the height and size to play well in the paint, he’s more of a perimeter shooter/defender so he might not be the best fit for what Dallas needs now.
Regardless of what happens this offseason, Dallas has two main focuses: bring Irving back and sign a big man. Lebron James would be a great addition to the Mavericks, but do they have the money to bring in role players for cheap? Potentially, but Dallas has had their fair share of challenges in bringing in top free agents to play with Doncic.
It’s not likely that James would leave Los Angeles, but it is something he should consider. He would be able to play with his former teammate and one of the best basketball players in the world. For Dallas fans, they shouldn’t hold their breath as at the end of the day, there are other needs to address, and James at 38 years old can’t fix their main concerns. It’s a nice thought, but in reality, it isn’t the most logical move for the team right now.
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