Will Kyrie Irving choose Mavericks over joining LeBron James and Lakers this summer?

Kyrie Irving has a chance to build a long-term title contender with Dallas Mavericks

Irving wants a max contract, and this could be his last one. If he signs a five-year deal with Dallas this summer, he will be 36 years old by the time he becomes a free agent again in 2028. Kyrie knows this is his chance to cash in with a monster payday.

Irving knows he holds the power to request a trade and find a different situation, but there is almost no way LeBron James is still playing at an elite level in four years. He would be 42 with 23 years in the NBA. King James likely has two to three years left as a superstar, but the Lakers are unlikely to be able to build a title contender around him during that stretch.

Luka Doncic will be in the middle of his prime for the entire five years, and they would be in the hunt every year. Irving has long-term relationships with Nico Harrison and Jason Kidd, so the Mavericks may offer him the best chance at happiness too. Kyrie wants to have a say in the team’s decision-making, and Dallas is willing to let that happen. They asked Luka before trading for Irving.

The Dallas Mavericks could become a scary team with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in the backcourt. When the cap spikes in a few years, they may even be able to add a third star that makes them championship favorites. Kyrie Irving will not have that luxury with the Lakers because LeBron only has a few years left at the top of his game.