According to NBA insider Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Kyrie Irving had a “strong interest” in reuniting with LeBron James on the Los Angeles Lakers or Dallas Mavericks last summer.
Irving was an unrestricted free agent last offseason. He attended two Lakers playoff games to send a message that he was serious about playing with LeBron again.
“Irving lives in Los Angeles in the offseason, and he had an open calendar after the Dallas Mavericks failed to make the playoffs,” Shelburne wrote. “But he was also about to become a free agent, and according to sources close to him, Irving had a strong interest in reuniting with James — the man he’d won an NBA championship with as Cavaliers back in 2016 — either in Los Angeles or Dallas. Irving was there, sources close to him say, to send that very message.”
The Lakers tried to trade for Irving last season after the All-Star guard requested a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. However, the Nets traded Irving to the Mavericks.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
After the Lakers got swept by the Denver Nuggets in the 2023 Western Conference Finals, Irving and LeBron talked about teaming up again. Los Angeles could have signed Irving in free agency, but the franchise opted not to and Irving — who tried to get LeBron to request a trade to Dallas — re-signed with the Mavericks.
Dallas is 24-17 this season, while Los Angeles is 20-21. Irving is averaging 25.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.5 blocks for the Mavericks while shooting 48.0% from the field, 41.6% from beyond the arc and 89.0% from the free-throw line. That is production the Lakers could use right now, as they are 19th in the NBA in points per game and 23rd in offensive rating.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers Updates
“It’s just too much on Bron right now,” one rival player whose team recently defeated the Lakers told ESPN. “Everyone is just going to pack the paint and try to frustrate him because they need a lot. Speed. Playmaking. Shooting.”
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