League sources said LeBron James had been angling for former teammate Kyrie Irving to join him in Cleveland, but the Dallas Mavericks have had no interest in engaging the Cavaliers in a trade, and Irving is believed to be comfortable where he is.
More on Kyrie Irving & LeBron James: Recent HoopsHype Rumors
Derek Fisher: A lineup with Bam, Giannis, LeBron, Andrew Wiggins, I mean, they can switch everything defensively. It would be tough to score on that group. The Heat switched over last season, for sure, maybe parts of the season before, but they were playing really, really fast. They limited their pick-and-roll use, and they were using a little bit more of drive, kick, space, cuts, drifting, and I'm not sure if that's a style that they would stick with if Giannis is now there, combined with adding
LeBron. — 7/24/2026 YouTube
Austin Reaves: Be true to yourself Reaves is a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers. After going undrafted out of Oklahoma, he signed a new contract this offseason. Reaves: LeBron James told me that my rookie year. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, I don’t like going out. I stay in the house, and that was the first thing he told me. He was like, “Don’t try to fit in with anybody that you’re not. If you want to do something, do it. If not, do what you like to do.” I felt like a weight off my shoulders because I could just be myself every day instead of trying to act like somebody else. It’s not even necessarily anything to do with basketball or sports. I think it’s just life in general. Be yourself and be a good person, and at the end of the day, good things will happen.” — 7/24/2026 New York Times
Also, there have been suggestions made on TV this week that James made up his mind, changed it and is back to square one. Sources close to James told The Athletic those suggestions were “a lie.” Others have floated roster moves James might be holding out for, which Paul has said is not true. — 7/23/2026 New York Times
But as of Thursday morning, there is still no announcement. “Nobody knows right now except LeBron,” said a source close to James who spoke on a condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations, “and I’m not even sure LeBron knows.” — 7/23/2026 New York Times
And even though he is now a veteran in the league in his own right, he still views James and Rondo from those years as the most influential teammates he’s ever had. “I’d say probably Bron or Rondo,” Kuzma said in an appearance on the White Noise podcast. “[LeBron] got so much money that you just see a certain type of life that is maybe not attainable because not everybody can be a billionaire, but it’s like a North Star to you. Like this guy’s got a lot of motion and there’s other things off the court where it’s like, I actually can do more and you just gotta put your mind to it. “And then Rondo because he’s just so sophisticated, so smart basketball-wise. He’s like a savant, it like made you wanna pick up your acumen. He would call sometimes after a game at like 3 a.m., ‘Yo, what you doing?’ Like ‘I’m in bed.’ He’s like ‘Yo, turn the game on, go to 8:10 in the third quarter. What are you thinking here?’ And that’s like motivating, you know?” — 7/23/2026 Lakers Nation
Underdog NBA: Shams on LeBron: "My sources tell me that LeBron James, his agent Rich Paul … they're not waiting for another domino right now. They're not waiting for Anthony Davis to get traded anywhere, they're not waiting for anyone else to move around anywhere." — 7/23/2026 x.com
Heat Central: “Sources tell me LeBron James, his agent Rich Paul, they’re not waiting for another domino right now. They’re not waiting for Anthony Davis to get traded. CLE, MIA, GSW, PHI, MIN, they’re set. Those are the teams. This is going to be based on happiness, chance to contend for a championship, join a culture” — 7/23/2026 x.com
LeBron James has kept his cards so close to the vest, that not even his own son seems to know where he will go. The elder James remains a free agent as a handful of prominent NBA teams continue to vie for his services this summer, and it's unclear when a decision might come. His oldest son, Bronny, recently was approached on the street by Instagram creator biggy22x, who first asked James to share a message to the youth before then asking the pressing question Warriors fans wants to know: Is his dad going to Golden State? "Man, I don't know where he's going," Bronny said laughing. "That would be crazy if he did." — 7/23/2026 NBC Sports Bay Area
ESPN Cleveland: "But I'm telling you, the people who I'm talking to, who are the players, the coaches, the executives, the owners, they don't know,"- @WindhorstESPN with the latest on LeBron James' free agency. — 7/23/2026 x.com
Dillon Brooks on the viral meme of him laughing at LeBron James from the stands: What’s funny is I got a ticket [for the game] from Rich Paul…. It’s a good meme. He was talking to a LA fan, he was like ‘I know you throwing shade at me. I know, I know.’ So I’m looking at him like ‘oh my god he’s really worried about this fan right here? You’re down 3-0 now.’ I’m just cracking up. I’m telling my agent on the side ‘damn he’s really focused on the wrong sh*t right now.’ — 7/23/2026 YouTube
The popular theory around the league is that LeBron has been slow-playing his decision to see if any of his suitors could find a way to land Irving or Davis. If a team proved capable of acquiring one of his championship teammates, sources say, it might sway him in that direction. — 7/22/2026 Yahoo! Sports
Marc Stein: I reported this on June 14th. Teams calling for Kyrie Irving are being told Kyrie's not available, but Gafford, Klay, and PJ are regarded as the most available of the Mavs vets. It's been more than a month. We've since established that Gafford and Klay are... That's where that list should start. But that doesn't guarantee a trade. Maybe a trade will materialize, but just because the Mavs have shown a willingness on Gafford and Klay especially to listen to offers, it doesn't guarantee a move. — 7/19/2026 YouTube
Marc Stein: After trading away Anthony Davis in February, Dallas will again have three No. 1 overall picks on its roster when today's three-team trade agreement is made official: Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving and Zaccharie Risacher. — 7/19/2026 Twitter @TheSteinLine
Sergio de Larrea and the first thing he’s going to ask Kyrie Irving: ‘Above all, about leadership. Hw he leads the team on the court. He’s a great leader, not just as a player but as a person. I want to learn how he handles those things in such a complex and competitive environment.’ — 7/17/2026 x.com
Nick DePaula: Kyrie Irving debuted a new “KAIBRID” prototype sample at his Uncle Drew Circuit tournament today — a hybrid design blending details from his first three ANTA KAI signature shoes together. What colorways would you want to see come to life on a future KAIBRID pair? — 7/17/2026 x.com
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: LeBron James angled for Kyrie Irving return to Cavaliers
