LeBron James’ next move is starting to feel less like a rumor mill exercise and more like a countdown.
As the 24th season of his career - and maybe his last - comes into focus, the list of possible landing spots keeps shifting. Rich Paul recently mentioned the Dallas Mavericks on his podcast, but the names drawing the most attention still include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors. The Indiana Pacers have also crept into the conversation, especially with James doing a “Mind the Game” podcast with Tyrese Haliburton today.
Still, the cleanest ending points back to Cleveland. James was drafted there in 2003, brought the franchise its first title in 2016 and will always sit at the top of the Cavaliers’ all-time list.
The fit on the court is obvious, too. Cleveland would love the lift James brings, and a lineup featuring James Harden, if and when he re-signs, Donovan Mitchell, LeBron James, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen would be one of the league’s best.
The problem is money. The Cavaliers do not have much room to work with, and even though James is not chasing the biggest payday, a minimum deal would still look unusual.
That’s where Dallas could get pulled into the picture.
According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, Cleveland would likely need to attach a draft pick if it tried to move Dennis Schroder or Max Strus in order to create more space for James. Schroder is set to make $14.8 million this season, while Strus is due $16.6 million.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, preserved their $20 million trade exception by taking part in a six-team sign-and-trade that brought in Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic and Marcus Sasser, while sending out AJ Johnson, Khris Middleton and some draft capital.
That exception is big enough to absorb either Schroder or Strus, and both players would address needs in Dallas. The Mavericks could use more playmaking and more shooting.
Cleveland does have some draft ammunition, including second-round picks in 2032 and 2033. But the bigger appeal for Dallas may be the Cavaliers’ stash of first-round picks and pick swaps, especially as the Mavericks look to rebuild their draft capital.
One hypothetical framework would send Dennis Schroder and a 2032 pick swap to Dallas for Ryan Nembhard. That would trim Cleveland’s payroll by $12.7 million, giving the Cavaliers more room to chase James and re-sign Harden, while the Mavericks would get another ball-handler on a contract that only becomes guaranteed for $4,350,000 in 2027-28, making it a potentially movable piece next offseason.
It would also help Dallas clear the roster spot it needs. And after what Nembhard showed in Summer League, the Mavericks clearly have reason to keep looking for an upgrade in the backcourt.
In Other News...
Mavericks May Be Learning Something Important About Sergio De Larrea
Sergio De Larreas Summer League run with the Mavericks has already given the staff a little bit of everything. After a mixed start, the rookie guard turned in his best showing in his third game, finishing with 16 points and 12 assists and giving Dallas a clearer look at what he can do when the pace picks up and the pressure starts to matter.
Joe Boylan has made it clear these games are less about the box score than the process, calling the stretch a fact-finding mission to see how players handle different roles and how the pieces fit together. For De Larrea, that means every possession is part of the evaluation, and the Mavericks are still sorting out just how much responsibility he can handle once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Risk Reopening Their Biggest Weakness With One Looming Decision
The Mavericks spent last season living with one of their clearest flaws, and it showed up everywhere from the standings to the shot profile. Dallas struggled badly from long range, and with so few dependable perimeter threats on the roster, Klay Thompson has remained one of the few players who can bend a defense simply by standing on the floor. Even with the ups and downs that come with a veteran shooter, his rsum still matters in a way few players on this roster can match.
Thompsons value is tied to more than reputation, too. He still had stretches last season when the shot looked like itself again, and that kind of spacing is hard to replace for a team that already has very little margin for error. If Dallas decides to move on, it risks turning a known weakness into something even harder to cover, especially when the alternatives do not offer the same kind of proven range. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Smiths Summer League Slide Raises A Troubling Mavericks Question
Tyler Smith entered Summer League as one of the more intriguing Dallas development pieces, but the early returns have not matched the expectations around him. The two-way forward was supposed to get a real chance to show he belonged in the mix, yet his minutes have been limited throughout the event and his production has been modest, leaving the Mavericks with more questions than answers as they sort through the edges of the roster.
Smiths last outing only added to the uncertainty, since he did not play against Memphis after logging just 28 total minutes across the previous two games. Dallas still has reason to remember the upside he flashed late last season, including a 20-point finish against Chicago, but Summer League is supposed to sharpen a players case, not cloud it, and Smith has left the team with a decision to make. [Read more 🡒]