LeBron James exercised his $52.6 million player option with the Los Angeles Lakers, but that decision came only after considering what could have been a blockbuster reunion in Dallas. The four-time champion had his eyes on the Mavericks, where he could have joined former teammates Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving for one final championship run.
Why Did LeBron James Consider Leaving the Lakers for Dallas?
According to a recent report from NBA insider John Hollinger, James was interested in potentially moving to the Western Conference contenders before exercising his player option. This move would have shocked the NBA world, especially considering the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić to Los Angeles in the middle of the 2024-25 season.
REPORT: LeBron James “had eyes” on the Dallas Mavericks before he opted-in to his contract with the Lakers, per @johnhollinger
“In particular, the whispers about him having eyes for Dallas — a place where he could have teamed up with former teammates Anthony Davis and Kyrie… pic.twitter.com/0VefBPpls9
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) July 21, 2025
“In particular, the whispers about him having eyes for Dallas, a place where he could have teamed up with former teammates Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and young phenom Cooper Flagg, before opting into his deal were hard to ignore,” Hollinger revealed.
The Dallas connection runs deeper than most realize. Davis, James’s former Lakers teammate, was involved in the blockbuster trade that sent Dončić to Los Angeles during the 2024-25 campaign. The Mavericks sent Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to the Lakers in exchange for Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick.
What Made a James Move to Dallas Financially Impossible?
Despite his interest in Dallas, the financial realities made such a move nearly impossible. James will earn $52.6 million in the 2025-26 season, the final year of his contract. Leaving that money on the table to sign a nontaxpayer mid-level exception with the Mavericks was unrealistic.
“Obviously, James wasn’t willing to leave $52 million on the table to take a nontaxpayer MLE or something similar from the Mavericks or another team. A buyout seems similarly unlikely,” Hollinger explained in his report.
LeBron James “had eyes” for the Dallas Mavericks before he eventually opted into the Lakers deal, per @johnhollinger
James wasn’t willing to leave $52 million on the table
(https://t.co/afzqoQiQKO) pic.twitter.com/7VJEcTWN3S
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 21, 2025
The situation doesn’t come as a surprise to those following James’s free agency closely. NBA insider Jovan Buha predicted this scenario at the start of July, emphasizing the difficulties of matching James’s massive salary and finding a trade partner willing to offer significant value in return.
“You’ve got to have the matching salary, and that’s upwards of mid-50s,” Buha explained. “The Lakers aren’t just going to take on a matching salary to make a deal. It has to be good players.”
Beyond the financial complications, James has also made his priorities crystal clear. The Lakers superstar will only consider teams that can genuinely compete for a championship, which significantly narrows his options.
“He wants to finish his career playing at the highest level, whether that’s in Los Angeles or somewhere else,” NBA insider Shams Charania revealed last month, a claim backed up by James’s agent, Rich Paul.
Following the Lakers’ recent moves in free agency, including the acquisitions of Deandre Ayton, Marcus Smart, and Jake LaRavia, Los Angeles appears positioned as the best destination for James to finish his career while remaining competitive. Still, the thought of seeing him reunite with Davis and Irving in Dallas for one final championship push would have provided the ultimate throwback storyline for NBA fans.
