Donovan Mitchell: We’re not the LeBron James, Kyrie Irving version of the Cavaliers, we do it differently

Kevin Durant: So, do you think the profile of players change? Like I’m been thinking I’m like I don’t know if the 6-2 and under guard is at a premium no more as a starter. Maybe as a backup. But you have to be… LeBron James: We just talked about this in the last… Steve Nash: It’s gotten compressed. It’s that like either Donovan Mitchell, Drew Holiday 6-3, Lou Dort… Durant: You can’t get picked on defense. That’s the thing cuz we playing such a pick on game that they will really literally, if you can’t guard they will bring you up every play. And six foot, 6-1, and you’re not a bulldog like a Davion Mitchell, Jrue Holiday on the defensive side, or you not an offense that’s flat out savant like Kyrie Irving, where you can score on dudes seven feet easily in ISO, then I just can’t see it. -via YouTube / July 1, 2025

Kyrie Irving’s acceptance of a three-year, $119 million contract — taking a pay cut for this season after declining his $43 million player option — allowed the Mavericks to maintain access to the $5.7 million taxpayer midlevel exception. The plan for that slot is to sign a lead guard who can start while Irving recovers from his torn left ACL and transition to a key reserve role upon the nine-time All-Star’s return. Candidates include D’Angelo Russell, Malcolm Brogdon, Chris Paul and Tyus Jones, sources said. (The Mavs had interest in Dennis Schroder, but he is expected to command a significantly higher salary.) -via ESPN / June 30, 2025

Mike Curtis: No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg is the special guest at American Airlines Center for tonight’s Wings-Fever game, but I’m told #Mavs star Kyrie Irving will also be in the building. -via Twitter @MikeACurtis2 / June 27, 2025

After star forward LeBron James opted into his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2025-26 season, there remains speculation that he could push for a trade at some point during the final year of his deal. During Wednesday’s episode of First Take, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that there weren’t any major negotiations with the Lakers before James exercised his $52.6 million player option. “The Lakers and LeBron, whoever wants to spin their side of the story, I’m not sure what happened, but the Lakers and LeBron did not have substantive discussions about extending his contract, which every team that LeBron’s been on for 20-something years has wanted to have substantive conversations about extending his contract,” Windhorst said. “And what happens to expiring contracts in the NBA? They’re viewed as trade pieces.” -via Bleacher Report / July 2, 2025

LeBron James is considered likely to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers next season, but he would receive interest if the parties decide to explore the trade market. James picked up his $52.6 million player option with the Lakers on the eve of free agency, but comments from Rich Paul suggested he has some level of unease over how competitive the team is choosing to be in the short-term as they now pivot to build around Luka Doncic. “I am told LeBron’s just chilling and watching the offseason,” said Brian Windhorst on Tuesday’s NBA Today Free Agency Special. “Do I think he’s going to get traded? No, I do not. But if he wanted to get traded, there are teams who would step up and make offers. So those two things, I think, are true. And if LeBron speaks up for himself and has a different thing to say, then we could have some action. But I don’t know if that’ll happen.” -via RealGM / July 2, 2025

LeBron James on the 50-40-90 club: You (Kevin Durant) have done it twice. You’ve done it twice and it was actually 10 years apart from when you did it. I think the first time you did it was in 2013 and I believe the last time was 2023. Durant: Yep. James: Bu you want to know who’s actually the leader in the 50-40-90 club? Durant: I think it’s this guy (Steve Nash). James: What was it? Four. Durant: And I feel like I missed like three. Nash: You know what? That’s funny. We were talking about it my first year with the Lakers here at the end. I was like 100 years old, but no offense, but I think I missed it by a layup, like a one field goal, man. Durant: And that stings every time. Nash: And I think earlier in my career, I missed it like I shot 89.7 from the line. And you think back it’s like one or two free throws that’s for a whole season. That’s crazy. Durant: That’s crazy. Nash: So I don’t think about the four times doing it. I think about the two times, you know, right there. -via YouTube / July 1, 2025

Donovan Mitchell: “Everybody wants to sacrifice until it’s their turn. I think that’s the one thing I learned and it’s like what are you willing to do to win? You know what I mean? And I think there’s growing pains in that, you know what I mean? I think this was a growing pain, you know, losing the way we we did. But looking at the season as a whole, you know, there was a lot of progression in a lot of fronts by a lot of people in our group, you know, and I think and that’s something for me and even myself, you know what I mean? I think it’s something that, you know, I’m not going to say I, oh, because of me, Evan did this or DG did that. Like, no, they they worked their tails off in their own right to be who they are. But I think for them, for me, them allowing me to lead in that way, I think, was was special, you know what I mean? I think for for me, um, as a leader, you can only lead if guys allow you to, you know what I mean? They could easily just be like, ‘No, you’re not listening to what you got to say, whatever.’ So, I I have the utmost respect for for my teammates in that regard for allowing me to do that.” -via YouTube / July 2, 2025

Donovan Mitchell: “I tell people all the time that was the first year in about five years where there was not a question of where is Donovan Mitchell going next. You know what I mean? Like and I was in Utah it was like where’s he going next? When I was in Cleveland he wasn’t. I was like I’m not staying. Oh, I’m not staying. He’s not staying. And then it became like after every win, after every loss, we go on a losing streak. It’s like oh this is why he’s leaving. You know what I mean? And I think it became it just became a lot. And I didn’t realize it in the moment. when you’re in it, you don’t really notice how much that really like, you know, stresses you in life. And not necessarily always in a bad way, but it’s just like it’s always on your mind. It’s on your teammates’s mind. That teammates got to answer these questions. My coach has got to answer these questions. You know, GM, everybody’s got to answer the question of like, where’s he going? What’s he doing? Um, even though I knew I was staying, even though they knew I was staying, it’s just still a topic of conversation. You know what I mean? I think for me, just being able to call a place home and be there and want to be there and be like, ‘All right, cool. This is this is where I’m at.’” -via YouTube / July 2, 2025

Donovan Mitchell: “I always say it — Evan doesn’t even know what he is yet. I’ve seen it in flashes. The Boston series, when I was out — he was him. Defensive Player of the Year at 23. First-Team All-Defense. But offensively? He’s just scratching the surface. He has it. Now, it’s about aggression, consistency, demanding the ball. That’s what I keep telling him: ‘No, we need more. Demand it. If I don’t pass you the vote, get on my ass. If DJ don’t give you the vote, get on his ass. If Ty don’t get it to you, get on his ass.’ And be okay with that. You know what I mean? And um I think that’s something that he’s continuing and he’s ready for it. I have no doubt.” -via YouTube / July 2, 2025