NBA Insider On LeBron James Trade to Luka Doncic's Mavs: 'I Would Not Rule Anything Out'
DALLAS — It's become a common occurrence for NBA superstars to change teams. The reasoning behind it is often different on a case-by-case basis, but it's a constant storyline to monitor around the league.
LeBron James, who became the league’s all-time leading scorer earlier this season, has remained in Los Angeles since 2018, but there's been speculation about other plans as they continue to underachieve.
After the Dallas Mavericks’ loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday, Fanatics View spoke to ESPN's Brian Windhorst about a variety of topics. Among them was the possibility of LeBron James leaving the Lakers to join the Mavs.
Windhorst made clear that he doesn't believe James will ultimately leave Los Angeles, but he 'would not rule anything out' as far as future plans are concerned, with the context of joining the Mavericks being at the forefront.
“I don’t think he wants to leave L.A., I think that’s pretty clear,” Windhorst told Fanatics View. “I do think he has a great respect for Luka and he has appreciated him for a long time, not that that’s surprising. So I would not rule anything out. But, LeBron has not shown a lot of interest in leaving L.A. and Luka is obviously committed here for a long time.”
The connections between the Mavs and James are clear. He has expressed his respect for Doncic often, but also has done the same for his former assistant coach and NBA peer Jason Kidd, who currently is the head coach of the Mavs. Depending on Kyrie Irving's future with his impending free agency, the chance for James to play with him again could be clear.
There are many layers to unpack as far as James' future options are concerned. He signed a two-year, $97.1 million contract extension that begins next season and runs through the 2024-25 campaign. He could decline the $50.6 million final-year player option to enter free agency in 2024.
James has struggled to finish seasons healthy as of late and is already 38. Would parting with future assets be worth the cost? Of course, that would be up to the Mavs’ front office to decide in this hypothetical instance, but it would appear difficult to make the case if it required a lot of assets to do so.
The Mavs' short-term outlook will be dependent on Irving's future with the team, then the team's ability to improve defensively around him and Doncic. They have sunk to being the 30th-ranked defense over the last eight games, which has forced them to play many close games amid struggles to execute in pivotal moments.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Mavericks? Click Here.
Follow DallasBasketball.com on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow Grant Afseth on Twitter.
