After LeBron James hinted at a possible trade request from the Los Angeles Lakers through his agent, Rich Paul, there is one team that could be on top of his list, Jovan Buha, formerly of The Athletic, speculates.
“I will say that there’s been some LeBron and Dallas buzz going on for a couple of years now,” Buha said on his podcast “Buha’s Block” on June 29. “Remember, in the summer of 2023, right after Dallas had traded for Kyrie [Irving], there was that rumor out there that LeBron was going to go to Dallas on a minimum contract and team up with Draymond [Green] and it was going to be Luka [Doncic], Kyrie, LeBron and Draymond. And that, of course, did not happen, but there has been some buzz. I will say in the general NBA ether over the last week or two with LeBron and Dallas.”
Buha highlighted all the dots that connect to James to the Dallas Mavericks.
“And if you just look at the situation, they have [Anthony Davis], they have Kyrie, they have Jason Kidd, who LeBron played with in Team USA and then also played under with the Lakers. Kidd was an assistant on that 2020 title team and LeBron loved being coached by him. They also have Nico Harrison which, as funny as that is to some, he is a former Nike guy and LeBron is Mr. Nike.”
Aside from those connections, there is also the Adelson family, who owns the Mavericks and are very influential in Las Vegas, where James hopes to own an NBA team there someday.
LeBron’s Ultimatum to Lakers
GettyKlutch Sports CEO Rich Paul issues a strong statement after Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James opts in.
After James picked up his $52.6 million player option, he applied pressure, through his agent, on the Lakers front office to furnish him a championship-ready roster on the twilight of his career.
“LeBron wants to compete for a championship,” Paul told ESPN. “He knows the Lakers are building for the future. He understands that, but he values a realistic chance of winning it all. We are very appreciative of the partnership that we’ve had for eight years with Jeanie [Buss] and Rob [Pelinka] and consider the Lakers as a critical part of his career.”
The Lakers made a seismic organizational pivot from James when they traded for Doncic, swapping Davis, James’ closest friend on the team and a fellow Klutch Sports client. Upon his arrival, Doncic has been heralded as the face of the franchise for the next decade.
“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future,” Paul continued. “We do want to evaluate what’s best for LeBron at this stage in his life and career. He wants to make every season he has left count, and the Lakers understand that, are supportive and want what’s best for him.”
Mavericks is a Team to Watch
The Lakers have been actively searching for upgrades and centers to fill their holes. But they are short of draft capital, with only one first-round pick (2031 or 2032) and up to four pick swaps, and cap room.
Dorian Finney-Smith, who was integral to the Lakers last season, has opted out and the Houston Rockets have emerged as a viable landing spot for him.
Buha predicts James will ultimately with the Lakers. However, he is not ruling out a trade demand if Lakers fail to deliver an improved roster that is capable to compete in the loaded Western Conference.
“So, I think LeBron is going to stay in L.A. I think that’s the way this ultimately plays out,” Buha said. “And I mean, we’ve done this song and dance before with him right? And we’ve seen him apply pressure through the media, through statements. This does feel a little bit different than that. But I think he stays.
“But if he does ask out if it gets to that point if the disaster scenario for the Lakers plays out where DFS leaves, they strike out in free agency in terms of an impact player, they don’t make a trade or two and LeBron is unhappy with the roster and wants out, I would say keep an eye on Dallas. That that’s all I’m going to say with that I think, that’s a team that would be on his list and in play.”
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