Kyrie Irving is actively recruiting LeBron James to the Dallas Mavericks, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Meanwhile, Irving is pushing the Mavs to acquire James, per Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report.
"A new twist has emerged in the LeBron James-Kyrie Irving reunion plot, as league sources have told Bleacher Report Irving wants the Dallas Mavericks to explore trading for LeBron James this offseason to create a Big 3 alongside himself and Luka Doncic," Haynes wrote for Bleacher Report.
Irving and James played together for three seasons on the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning a championship in 2016.
Sources: Kyrie Irving has reached out to Lakers star LeBron James in attempts to see if James would come to Dallas. Irving is a free agent this offseason.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 5, 2023
Irving is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has said that he would love to re-sign the veteran point guard.
James can’t hit free agency until after next season, as he’s under contract with the Los Angeles Lakers through next year (earning $46,698,737) and then he has a player option worth $50,434,636 in 2024-25. The Mavericks would either have to trade for James or he would have to negotiate a buyout from the Lakers.
With these reports about a possible Irving-James reunion in Dallas surfacing, the Mavericks are now the odds-on favorites to land James this offseason.