Rich Paul makes surprising case for LeBron James to join Dallas Mavericks
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Rich Paul makes surprising case for LeBron James to join Dallas Mavericks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
LeBron James is officially moving on from the Los Angeles Lakers and will not return for the 2026-27 season. With the four-time NBA champion now entering free agency, every team outside of the Lakers has the opportunity to pitch its vision to James, including the Dallas Mavericks.
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During the latest episode of Game Over with Max Kellerman, LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, discussed several realistic destinations for the NBA superstar. While breaking down the possibilities on a whiteboard, Paul identified the Dallas Mavericks as a legitimate dark-horse landing spot for James.
James' agent pointed to Dallas’ business opportunities while also comparing them to the global reach and broader opportunities associated with Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri. Paul suggested that both Dallas and Ujiri offer unique advantages that extend well beyond what happens on the basketball court.
"Okay, so you spoke about Maasai, Dallas and Maasai. Now in Dallas they got oil, they got golf, and then with Maasai you got the whole continent of Africa. A lot comes with Dallas and Maasai,” Paul said.
The basketball fit is also interesting. Dallas already features Kyrie Irving, opening the door for a reunion between the former teammates who won the 2016 NBA championship together. In addition, joining the Mavericks would give LeBron the opportunity to mentor highly touted 19-year-old Cooper Flagg.
However, the Mavericks are expected to face significant competition in the race for James. Paul placed Dallas in his second tier of potential "wildcard" destinations rather than among the leading favorites. According to reports from league executives, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors are currently viewed as the frontrunners to land the four-time NBA champion.
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