• Kyrie Irving reportedly wants to reunite with LeBron James in Dallas
• The All-Star guard played with the Lakers veteran for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2017
• Several obstacles make that move extremely unlikely

On Monday, June 5, news broke that Kyrie Irving wants LeBron James to join him in Dallas.

The Mavericks guard reportedly reached out to James to recruit him to Dallas. It is an unexpected twist since much of the discourse this season has been about the two former teammates teaming up in Los Angeles.

James, 38, and Irving played together for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2017, winning the 2016 NBA championship.

Since then, things have gone differently for each of them. James led the Lakers to the 2020 NBA title, while Kyrie has played for three teams and went from a lovable character to an NBA pariah.

Getting James to Dallas will be difficult for several reasons. Here are four major reasons why James to Dallas will probably never happen.

4 reasons why James to Dallas is unlikely

1. LeBron James’ contract

The 20-year veteran agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million extension with the Lakers last summer. He is set to get $46.7 million for the 2023/24 season and has a player option for the 2024-25 campaign worth $50.4 million, per the Athletic.

Therefore, he will need help from the Lakers to help him move.

2. Dallas’ lack of assets for James’ trade

The Mavericks don’t have enough assets to trade for James. According to Bleacher Report, a James trade to the Mavericks would first require a trade request. If that were to happen, the Mavericks would offer a package of, say, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dāvis Bertāns, Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, the No. 10 pick in the 2023 draft, and another future first-round pick to seal the deal, per the Athletic. This would probably not interest the Lakers.

Moreover, two first-round picks for James are way too low considering the four first-round picks lesser players have gotten in the past. Mark Cuban and Dallas will also have also to offload a ton of their wage bill to make the trade work if you factor in the new collective bargaining agreement, which makes it harder than ever to get three max players on one roster.

3. Unlikely buyout scenario

For a buyout to work, the Lakers would have to place the 38-year-old on waivers and hope that no other team would claim him, per Sporting News. Even at this stage in his career, James would attract plenty of suitors who have the cap space to sign him. He could become a ceiling raiser for some teams in the NBA.

Any player that is bought out could be picked on waivers, and that team will need to fit the player’s entire salary on their cap sheet. Meaning James will have to take way less money than he was making if he signs with Dallas. In this scenario, Irving will also have to take a pay cut.

4. Why would James want to play in Dallas?

The Lakers just made the Western Conference finals, while the Mavericks couldn’t crack the Play-In Tournament. Therefore, James’ best chance of winning title number five is with the Lakers.

James, Irving, and Luka Doncic would form the most potent offensive team in the league. However, finding great defenders and shooters will be difficult if the three team up. James has no ties to the Dallas area, so it would be far-fetched to think he would want to move there.

James’ high school friends on retirement

Sports Brief earlier reported on James’ high school friends weighing in on James’ potential retirement.

Most of them don’t buy it. They think their friend still has work to do in the NBA.

James’ high school friends, Akron natives Dru Joyce II, Willie McGee, Sian Cotton, and Romeo Travis, played with James at St. Vincent – St. Mary High, and they’re still close to this day.