5 Veteran free agents Mavericks could target with ties to LeBron James

The Dallas Mavericks could look extremely different next season if Kyrie Irving gets his wish as the eight-time is reportedly recruiting LeBron James to join him in Texas. It is no secret that the two want to join forces, and Mavs fans have heard Kyrie to the Lakers for rumors months.

Can Irving convince James to come to Dallas? It won’t be easy. LeBron is said to be happy in Los Angeles and his oldest son, Bronny, will be a freshman at USC in the fall. Will James leave for Texas to form a Big 3 with Luka Doncic and Kyrie? Shams Charania just reported Irving is testing LeBron’s interest. There is no guarantee this happens, but there is some smoke.

The Mavericks would have to give up multiple pieces to acquire LeBron James, and the rest of their roster would likely be minimum-contract players. King James has had success recruiting veterans to take less money to play with him, but who could he convince this summer to join him in Dallas?

Veteran free agents the Dallas Mavericks could target with ties to LeBron James

5. Wesley Matthews

Matthews turns 37 in October, but he still brings it on the defensive end of the floor. The 6’4 wing can no longer play more than 20 minutes per game consistently, but he is still a steady veteran that can round out a roster.

Matthews spent three and a half years in Dallas before being traded in 2019 in the original Kristaps Porzingis deal. His play was frustrating for fans, but the veteran has settled into more of a 3-and-D bench role in recent years.

Matthews played with LeBron James during the 2020-21 season. LA had just won a title inside the bubble, and the veteran wing was eager to chase a ring with the Lakers. Things did not go as planned as James and company were bounced in the first round of the playoffs, but Matthews played a key role throughout the year, despite all the injuries on their roster.

Wesley Matthews is still looking for his first ring, and he could decide that the Dallas Mavericks are his best chance to win one if LeBron James joins Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

4. Tristan Thompson

Thompson did not play during the regular season, and it appeared the 32-year-old was headed for retirement until the Lakers signed him in late April. The 6’9 big man played four seasons with LeBron James in Cleveland, and the two are close friends. Thompson was the Cavaliers starter throughout their 2016 champion run, and he has played a key role on four teams that reached the NBA Finals. The Lakers brought him for leadership, and the Mavericks could do the same.

Dallas could not expect much from Thompson, but he did give the Lakers nearly ten quality minutes in their Game 4 loss to the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals. The 6’9 big man scored four points and had one rebound coming off the bench in his first real game action of the year.

If the Dallas Mavericks acquire LeBron James, they are going to need to round out their roster with players on veteran minimum contracts. Tristan Thompson won’t play a massive on-court role, but he could be a key leader and veteran in the locker room that helps the franchise navigate the challenges of the long season.

The Mavs desperately need center depth, and Thompson would be another body and option for head coach Jason Kidd to use next season. The 32-year-old is familiar playing with LeBron and Kyrie and could be the locker room voice the Mavericks lacked as they missed the playoffs in 2023.

3. Thomas Bryant

Bryant signed with the Lakers in the 2022 offseason only to be traded at the deadline in the deal that brought Mo Bamba to Los Angeles. The 6’10 big man produced some monster games, but his production was inconsistent. LeBron James had high praise for Bryant after he scored 29 points in a win over the Kings in early January.

"Thomas is taking full advantage of this opportunity. And he's a guy who plays extremely hard, knows how to play, and probably one of the most skilled bigs in this game. He catches everything. He finishes everything around the rim. But he also has a soft, soft touch from the mid-range and the 3-point line. And he's just has a motor and he's just a huge motor that there's just always going on both sides of the floor. I've always worked well with guys like that."

Bryant again becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, but would he have interest in reuniting with LeBron with Dallas? The 25-year-old struggles to protect the rim and cannot guard on the perimeter, but he can score, rebound, and stretch the floor. He would be a luxury to have as a backup big man on a minimum contract.

Bryant will certainly be looking for a new home this offseason after being traded to Denver, but not playing one second during the playoffs. The 25-year-old wants to get run, and he showed plenty when given an extended chance by the Lakers.

Will Dallas be his destination? The Mavericks have a clear need with both Dwight Powell and Christian Wood becoming unrestricted free agents. Thomas Bryant must improve his defense to get consistent minutes, but it is an option worth exploring this summer.

2. Kevin Love

Could the Mavericks bring back the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers championship squad? Kyrie Irving hit one of the biggest shots in NBA history to secure them the title. He is trying to convince LeBron to come to Dallas, but could Kevin Love be part of the package?

Love was the third star on that championship team, and he remained in Cleveland until being bought out in February. The 6’8 big man signed with the Miami Heat and has been a key piece of their run to the NBA Finals. He will no longer be in All-Star consideration, but Love brings leadership and a veteran presence to any squad.

The 34-year-old big man would love to win a second ring, and he may have to reunite with LeBron and Kyrie to do just that. The Dallas Mavericks would likely have the first pick of minimum-salary veterans if they can find a way to bring King James on board.

Kevin Love’s rebounding and floor spacing would be massive in a bench role. He will struggle on the defensive end, especially when switched onto the perimeter, but that may be worth giving up to get another veteran in the locker room with championship experience.

Love will have his choice of teams this offseason if he decides to continue playing, and acquiring LeBron is likely the only way he selects the Dallas Mavericks.

1. Jae Crowder

Crowder is coming off arguably the strangest season in the league. He became a key role player for the Suns for two straight years, including helping them reach the NBA Finals in 2021, before holding out after being told that he would be demoted to a bench role. The veteran forward was finally traded to Milwaukee in February for five second-round picks, but he fell out of the Bucks' rotation as they were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Miami Heat.

Crowder was left confused, and it appears the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent will be looking for a new home this summer.

Where will he end up? Crowder is going to want to join a contender, and the Dallas Mavericks could move to the front of that race if they acquire LeBron James. There is some beef between King James and Crowder that stems from their time playing together in Cleveland, but winning heals all. Chasing a championship is likely more important to the 32-year-old than an old beef with LeBron.

Will the Dallas Mavericks trade for LeBron James this summer? If so, it will force them to revamp their roster, and they will certainly be looking for veterans willing to play for the minimum. Who can King James and Kyrie convince to do so? Stay tuned to find out.