The Cavaliers may not have the cap space to swing a major overhaul, but there’s still a route for them to make a loud statement to LeBron James: go get Kyrie Irving.
That’s the kind of move Cleveland could use as it tries to convince James to choose them as one of his three finalists this summer. The fit is obvious on paper, and the history between James and the franchise runs deep. Still, the uncertainty around his decision suggests the Cavs may need to do more than simply present a familiar face and a strong roster.
One possible path runs through a sign-and-trade involving James Harden, who declined his $42.3 million player option for 2026-27. NBA insider Greg Swartz laid out a three-team framework on X that would send Harden to the Miami Heat and Kyrie Irving into Cleveland’s orbit.
In the scenario, the Miami Heat would receive James Harden. The Dallas Mavericks would get Jarrett Allen, Nikola Jovic, Dennis Schroder, and Davion Mitchell.
It’s not a deal that’s being actively discussed, but the logic is easy to follow. Miami would be adding another star to pair with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, and Harden still has plenty left in the tank.
Last season, he put up 23.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.6% from the field and 43.5% from three. At 36, he’s no longer the kind of player who can carry everything on his own, but he can still swing games.
The Heat could then round out the roster with veteran minimum signings.
For Dallas, the appeal would be in getting younger around Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks would not give up Irving lightly, and Allen would likely have to be part of any serious conversation. Swapping Irving for Allen would fit the direction of a team trying to build forward, while Schroder, Jovic, and Mitchell would give the Mavericks a boost in the backcourt.
But the biggest swing in the whole idea belongs to Cleveland. Even after reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, there’s still a feeling that the Cavaliers need another move to keep pace with the East’s top teams. Irving may not be the only answer, but he might be the cleanest one at point guard if the goal is to sell James on a return.
That’s because the James-Irving partnership already has the kind of history teams dream about. They won a championship together, and their connection goes beyond the box score. If Cleveland can bring Irving back, the pitch to James gets a lot stronger.
The remaining question is whether Irving would be on board. He was not at the Cavs’ 2016 championship reunion event, but that doesn’t mean there’s any bad blood with his old teammates. If he gets the chance to return to Cleveland and do it again, the expectation would be that he brings everything he has as one of the greatest offensive point guards of all time.
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The move is mostly procedural at this point, since Dudley has been out of the playing ranks for years and has long since moved into coaching. Still, it formally severs the last contractual tie between him and the Lakers, which is the kind of transaction that barely registers around the league but can catch the eye when a former Mavericks assistant shows up in the fine print. [Read more 🡒]