Mavericks Not Interested In Gutting Roster To Trade For Lakers’ LeBron James

The Dallas Mavericks are not interested in gutting their roster to trade for Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, according to Joe Vardon and Dan Woike of The Athletic. 

James will make $52.6 million next season.

“One team linked to James — the Dallas Mavericks — does not have interest in gutting its roster to match James’ salary in a trade, a team source told The Athletic,” Vardon and Woike wrote. 

James has been heavily linked to the Mavericks since the organization has Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Jason Kidd, D’Angelo Russell, Phil Handy and Nico Harrison.

However, James is expected to begin next season on the Lakers. 

“In the sections filled with employees from other teams, scouts and executives around the NBA buzzed with speculation about where else James might play, tossing around trade and buyout scenarios that, league and team sources told The Athletic, have never been discussed between James and the Lakers,” Vardon and Woike wrote. 

“Amid the constant speculation recently about his future, both the Lakers and people close to the NBA’s all-time leading scorer expect that he will be with the organization for training camp once the season begins this fall, league sources told The Athletic.

“Those same sources said the Lakers have received no indication from James or his representatives that he would request a trade or ask to be bought out of the final year of his contract, which will be his eighth season with the Lakers, the longest consecutive stretch spent with one organization in his career.”

James finished sixth in MVP voting and made the All-NBA Second Team last season. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists in 70 games. 

The Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2025 playoffs despite having James and Luka Doncic. 

Meanwhile, the Mavericks missed the playoffs last season after making the NBA Finals in 2024.

Dallas, though, has a bright future after drafting Cooper Flagg.