Dallas Mavericks Not Pursuing Trade for Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James

According to Kevin Gray Jr. of DLLS Sports, the Dallas Mavericks are not pursuing a trade for Los Angeles Lakers star and NBA icon LeBron James.

The 40-year-old James has been the subject of trade rumors ever since his agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group, released the following statement to NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN:

“LeBron wants to compete for a championship. 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.

“We understand the difficulty in winning now while preparing for the future. 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.”

James has a no-trade clause in his contract. If he requests a trade from the Lakers, Los Angeles has to trade James, who can pick his next team since he has a no-trade clause.

However, if James told the Lakers to trade him to the Mavericks, Dallas would have to be open to acquiring the leading scorer in NBA history.

James will make $52.6 million next season. He turns 41 in December. The four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP made the All-NBA Second Team and finished sixth in MVP voting last season.

A future Hall of Famer, James has been heavily linked to the Mavericks because the organization has Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Jason Kidd, Phil Handy and Nico Harrison.

James won the 2016 championship with Irving and Handy on the Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2020 title with Davis, Kidd and Handy on the Lakers.

James also played with Russell on the Lakers and knows Harrison from Harrison’s days as a Nike exec.

All signs point toward James staying with the Lakers. Paul’s statement to Charania was probably James’ way of putting pressure on Rob Pelinka to improve the roster around him and Luka Doncic.

Since that statement came out, Pelinka signed Deandre Ayton and Jake LaRavia.