DALLAS, TX – APRIL 5: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on as the Mavericks play the Sacramento Kings in the first half at American Airlines Center on April 5, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Kyrie Irving wants to pair himself with LeBron James and Luka Doncic in Dallas, no matter how unlikely such a move might be for the Lakers and Mavericks.
There are so, so many reasons why a Lakers and Mavericks trade for LeBron James is unlikely. It would be far more reasonable for Irving to force his way to Los Angeles, but alas, Kyrie doesn’t have a semblance of humility in his body.
First, James still has a year left on his Lakers contract, so the team is under no obligation to trade him. Second, James is fresh off a Western Conference Finals appearance with LA, while Dallas failed to make the postseason. Third, the new CBA makes it awfully tough to have three max players on the same roster, so someone would have to take a paycut.
As much as Irving may want to play with LeBron again, it seems he chose the toughest path. The road of least resistance leads to Los Angeles, but don’t tell Kyrie, Doncic or Mark Cuban that.
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It was a good thought by Irving. He meant well, as winning another NBA Title should be at the forefront of his mind right now. He’s a veteran player who wants to spend the latter half of his prime playing winning basketball.
Unfortunately, he’s spent the last few seasons preoccupied with pretty much anything but basketball, wasting away valuable years in Brooklyn and failing to make a postseason run with Doncic this season.
LeBron isn’t just one of the best NBA players ever, he’s also a calculated decision maker. Going to the Dallas Mavericks at this point in his career doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. The Mavs didn’t make the postseason as is, and they’d have to trade away assets just to acquire him.