As betting odds shift and Rich Paul highlights Dallas's global business ties, LeBron James may prioritize oil and investments over a championship reunion with Kyrie Irving.
DALLAS - The hottest girl in the bar is making goo-goo eyes at you ... but then you realize there are eight or nine other potential dance partners in line ahead of you.
Oh, and then you realize that the reason she's checking you out isn't because of the fine qualities you are proud of; it's because of “Oil,” “Golf,” “Macau” and “Africa.”
Are you still flattered by the goo-goo eyes when her pupils are simply dollar signs?
James, 41, recently told the Lakers he's leaving Los Angeles to pursue success elsewhere in what will be the 24th year of his brilliant career. Repped by Rich Paul, it's understood that they'll be talking to the Warriors, Nuggets, Cavaliers, Heat, and 76ers ...
And Dallas?
A few days ago, oddsmakers listed the Mavs as the No. 14 candidate in the LeBron pecking order. Suddenly, the Mavs' odds here are set at 40/1 and Dallas has vaulted into the No. 9 slot.
What changed?
Agent (and Klutch Sports CEO) Paul, speaking on “Game Over” podcast, rattled off the leading candidates for the services of the four-time MVP and the four-time NBA champion.
He even scribbled down teams and names and reasons on a whiteboard that he put on display for all to see.
And yup, there were your Dallas Mavericks.
That's the good news. The bad news is Paul's explanation for why LeBron might consider the Mavs.
“In Dallas, they have oil,” said Paul. “They have golf. They have Macau and the Sands Corporation. And then with Masai, you have the whole continent of Africa. A lot comes with Dallas and Masai.”
And indeed, scribbled on that board were the words “Dallas + Masai,'' followed by the words “Oil,” “Golf,” “Macau” and “Africa.”
Meaning what? Meaning "money.'' "Macau'' is a gambling region in China, and Mavs team governor Patrick Dumont is the CEO of Sands Corporation, which controls a casino and resort there. And new team president Masai Ujiri has roots in Africa, another business-purpose connection.
Oh, and "oil''? We all understand.
But LeBron ... what about, you know, basketball?
Paul's "reverse pitch'' here for the Mavs doesn't mention the basketball reason to come here named "Cooper Flagg.'' Nor does it mention the name "Kyrie Irving,'' and that is especially concerning.
Irving and James won the Cavs a championship together in 2016, and a reunion has been discussed for years.
A Mavs team in 2026-27 featuring LeBron, Flagg and Kyrie? That sounds rather compelling to us.
But to LeBron? What sounds compelling, it seems, is a Dallas connection featuring oil and investments and money.
READ MORE: Dallas Mavericks 2026 NBA Free Agent Tracker
And those really aren't the sort of goo-goo eyes we were hoping for.
Frankly, with all due respect to Paul's reasoning, LeBron James doesn't need to play for the Mavs for a year in order to get involved in world-wide investments; industry leaders in China and Africa and Texas would be happy to hook up with him right now ...
Because he's the hottest girl at the bar. He's LeBron James.
So, Dallas, consider yourself flirted with. And Mavs management, led by Ujiri? Keep working on this roster and this franchise so that some day soon, superstars want to come here to play basketball ...
Not to play golf.
