The basketball world was hit with a surprising report on Monday morning as fans learned that Kyrie Irving is recruiting LeBron James to the Mavericks.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Irving has reportedly “reached out” to LeBron to see if the four-time NBA Finals MVP would be willing to come join him in Dallas. This is especially noteworthy because rumors long circulated that the Lakers were interested in acquiring Irving.
As you may recall, LeBron had an interesting reaction after Kyrie’s trade request. The guard, however, was eventually traded to the Mavericks instead.
LeBron had another notable response after the trade was completed, then he went on the record with a bizarre interview about the deal.
All the while, the chatter about Irving’s potential desire to reunite with LeBron never quieted. That is particularly fascinating because during this entire saga, according to league insider Chris Haynes, Dallas was angling to make a trade for LeBron (via Bleacher Report):
“The Mavericks were preparing to make an offer for James last season when the Lakers were spiraling, sources say. But the Lakers made a string of trades near the deadline that changed the trajectory of their season.”
That is all fine and good, except for one major detail: LeBron wasn’t even eligible for a trade during the regular season because he signed an extension in August.
Here is more from Eric Pincus (via Sports Business Classroom):
“When a veteran signs an extension, the size and length of the extension determine trade eligibility. Teams are permitted to extend-and-trade players, but such extensions are limited to no more than a five percent raise and two additional seasons.
Anything larger, like LeBron James’ extension with the Los Angeles Lakers, includes a six-month no-trade restriction. James signed on August 18 and six months puts his trade eligibility past the February deadline.”
Suppose he had been eligible for a transaction, though, and still any pursuit from the Mavericks is laughable.
Dallas had to use several key assets to acquire Irving (including Dorian Finney-Smith and Spencer Dinwiddie) from Brooklyn. The roster depth, especially on defense, was so depleted following the transaction that the Mavericks failed to make the postseason.
It is unclear what else was left in the cupboard Dallas possibly could have offered Los Angeles at the deadline to make the Lakers interested in trading away LeBron, but there’s little chance they had much whatsoever.
From a salary-matching perspective, Dallas would have to include Tim Hardaway Jr. and Davis Bertans just to come close to reaching LeBron’s $44.5 million cap hit. Then they would have to hope that the Lakers were incredibly high on their two youngest players, Josh Green and Jaden Hardy.
Dallas also didn’t have the necessary draft capital to sweeten the deal after moving away picks to acquire Kristaps Porzingis, Christian Wood, and Irving. Quite simply: If the Lakers were shopping LeBron they could have easily beaten an offer centered around Green, Hardy, and salary-cap filler.
I just put Lebron, Kyrie (projected), and Luka's salary into a Cap Sheet and Excel just laughed at me.
They would literally be the entire Salary Cap 133.9mil of $134mil
— Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) June 5, 2023
This offseason, there still isn’t much else the Mavericks could offer (except for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft) that could incentivize a trade that Los Angeles would actually accept. Even if they did, the rest of the roster would have to be virtually all minimum contracts.
LeBron has spoken about his uncertain future in the NBA, but there isn’t much realistic possibility of him playing with Irving in Dallas.
This may all just be a leverage play from LeBron because he may be frustrated that the Lakers are reportedly no longer interested in signing Irving.
