The Dallas Mavericks are in an excellent situation after landing Cooper Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. When Kyrie Irving comes back fully healthy, the Mavericks have a roster ready to compete in the stacked Western Conference.
While things are looking great for the team, Nico Harrison will keep his eyes open for ways to improve. As the rumors continue swirling surrounding LeBron James, Dallas has become a team to watch.
James and Irving are close friends. There have been rumblings over the last couple of years about the two former teammates reuniting for one more run.
To say that the relationship between James and the Los Angeles Lakers has soured would be an understatement. It has been reported that the Lakers simply view James as an "expiring contract" at this point.
Due to those reports, there have been rumors about the Mavericks potentially being a trade suitor for James.
Even though the fit could make a lot of sense, Dallas likely doesn't have any interest in giving up the value and financials that it would take to acquire James. A new update has shed more light on that possible outcome.
ESPN reporter Dave McMenamin has now reported that the Mavericks would only be interested in James if he were bought out by Los Angeles.
"Dallas-I'm told-they would only be interested in LeBron [James] in a buyout situation," McMenamin said.
It seems very unlikely that the Lakers would be interested in buying James out when they could simply wait one more year and have him come off their books in free agency. Basically, if this report is true, there is no pathway to Dallas acquiring James this season.
On the off chance that Los Angeles did buy James out, the Mavericks would instantly be a favorite to land James.
There is no telling what the future has in store for James. He could retire following the 2025-26 NBA season or potentially play another year after it. Should he hit the open free agency market next offseason, Dallas could consider pursuing him.
Expect to continue hearing rumors around James' situation with the Lakers. It doesn't appear that the Mavericks would be a trade suitor if Los Angeles shops him.
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