LeBron James is still waiting on his free-agent decision, and the latest reporting suggests part of the delay may be tied to a familiar name: Kyrie Irving.
Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor reported that LeBron’s camp has been exploring whether the Cleveland Cavaliers or Golden State Warriors could swing a blockbuster trade for Anthony Davis or Irving. That search has run into some real obstacles. The Washington Wizards are sticking to their message that they are not moving on from Davis, while the Dallas Mavericks also appear intent on keeping Irving.
ESPN senior NBA writer Vince Goodwill added that LeBron has been "angling" for Kyrie Irving to join him in Cleveland with the Cavs.
A deal does not appear close, and the Cavaliers would have likely needed to include James Harden in a sign-and-trade with the Mavericks. For now, that route is not looking imminent.
Still, there is at least some belief that Irving could eventually circle back to Cleveland. NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson reported that Irving is open to returning to Cleveland at some point. Right now, though, he remains Dallas’ starting point guard, and the Mavericks are building around Rookie of the Year winner Cooper Flagg.
LeBron and Irving already built plenty together in Cleveland from 2014-2017. Irving was one of the league’s most electric young players, and his presence was part of what brought LeBron back to the Cavaliers in the first place.
The defining moment of that partnership came in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, when Irving hit the three-pointer that helped end Cleveland’s five-decade championship drought. The following season, with the Cavs facing the Warriors and Kevin Durant in the Finals, Cleveland was overmatched, and Irving asked for a trade.
That split is one Irving has since regretted, and LeBron has said on the record that he believes the Cavs could have won more titles with Irving still on the roster.
Even with injuries and limited postseason success since leaving Cleveland, the idea of LeBron and Irving finishing their careers together with the Cavaliers has a storybook feel to it. Irving is also slightly younger than Harden and, as the source reporting notes, would probably be less of a postseason liability.
None of this means a move is coming right now. But it also does not close the door. If Dallas runs into injuries or gets off to a slow start, Irving could become available again, and Cleveland could re-enter the picture.
For Cavs fans, the bigger takeaway is that LeBron was already trying to help shape the roster behind the scenes. Cleveland reached the Eastern Conference Finals a few months ago for the first time without LeBron since the 1990s, but then got swept in an uncompetitive series against the New York Knicks. Their seven-game series against the Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors showed that the gap in the East is not enormous.
Adding championship-tested names like LeBron, Irving or Davis would be a major win for Cleveland. But the reporting suggests Koby Altman may have a tough time pulling off a trade of that size, which leaves LeBron’s return home as the next possible domino.
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