As the wait for LeBron James to sign continues, one option he hoped to make happen has reportedly come to light. Per ESPN's Vincent Goodwill, James "had been angling" for a scenario in which the Cleveland Cavaliers worked out a trade for Kyrie Irving. However, Goodwill noted the Dallas Mavericks have shown "no interest" in trading Irving and he is "believed to be comfortable" in Dallas. James said one year after the trade that he "never felt like I didn't want to play with" Irving. In the summer of 2023, Irving reportedly reached out to James to gauge his interest in joining him in Dallas.