It’s possible that one of the greatest players of all time will soon reunite with his old colleague.
If Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James declines his player option, which has betting markets ready to go, he may be a free agency this offseason. You can presently wager on DraftKings as to which team King James will next use his skills.
The Dallas Mavericks are tied for fifth place with the Miami Heat and New York Knicks at +2500, while the Lakers are the clear favorites at -500. The Golden State Warriors (+1400), Cleveland Cavaliers (+1400), and Philadelphia 76ers (+1800) are the clubs in front.
There might not be a better basketball team for LeBron than the Mavericks. During his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he was a teammate of Kyrie Irving, with whom he shared a title in 2016. Over the years, James has also spoken highly of Luka Doncic, referring to him as his favorite player in the league.
It’s entertaining to consider how Doncic, Irving, and James could complement one other’s passing and scoring skills, but James would probably need to accept a significant salary reduction in order for it to work out because the Mavericks are already anticipated to be a tax-level team. The Mavericks could make changes, like letting go of Josh Green and Tim Hardaway Jr.’s contracts, but it would further reduce their financial flexibility in the future.
Not surprisingly, LeBron James has expressed his desire to play alongside his son Bronny, who has declared for the NBA Draft. Dallas, who was selected 58th overall by the Boston Celtics in the NBA Draft, now has the final pick in the draft. Taking Bronny James to persuade LeBron to come to Dallas wouldn’t be the worst idea if he was still available at that point, which is a possibility considering his lackluster college play and uncertainties surrounding his long-term potential.
James had a productive season despite being 39 years old, averaging 25.7 PPG, 8.3 APG, and 7.3 RPG while shooting a career-high 41% from three. He wants to be in the running for the championship and is still capable of playing at a high level.