Speculation about a reunion between LeBron James and Kyrie Irving has been a storyline followed by league insiders since the trade deadline. While many thought it was all but a formality that Irving and James would try to link back up in LA to go for another championship run together, reports that Kyrie attempted to recruit LeBron to the Mavs pointed toward a different sceneario entirely.
According to multiple reports, Irving isn't looking to go to the Lakers and instead wants to remain in Dallas as part of the Mavericks. NBA insider Marc Stein noted that Irving "has consistently expressed a desire to remain a Maverick and actually wants to shut down the notion that he's angling to get to L.A."
Stein also reports that the Mavericks have a mutual desire to retain Irving. He says Dallas "has not wavered from its hope and intent to re-sign Irving in free agency and pursue further potential win-now roster upgrades via trade packages built around the 10th overall pick in the June 22 draft."
It remains to be seen what free agency holds for Irving this summer but if this is any indication, Lakers fans hoping to see a LeBron x Kyrie reunion in the "purple and gold" may be disappointed in how the roster takes shape leading into the 2023-24 campaign.
