NBA insider Bill Simmons just made a monster prediction.
In a recent episode of his podcast, The Bill Simmons Podcast, Simmons has projected that both superstar LeBron James and Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green will attempt to team up with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving in Dallas - effectively forming the NBA's next super team.
“I have my half-baked idea for Draymond’s next season,” Simmons said. “I think he ends up in Dallas with Kyrie and with Luka, and then LeBron tries to figure out a way to get there eventually. Yea, that’s my prediction.”
Green, who has a player option for the 2023-24 season, before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2024-25, is set to earn $27.5 million, should he exercise his option.
Meanwhile, James just signed a two-year $97.1 million extension, that was designed to keep him in LA through the 2023-24 season, and has a $50.7 million player option in 2024-25.
In other words, the Mavs would likely have to acquire at least one, if not both (assuming Green exercises his option) via trade, or hope they both decline their player options.
So, obviously, this idea would require a lot of work and cap maneuvering.
With that said, while Simmons did not exactly express a direct source on the matter, he believes that there is something special potentially brewing in Dallas in the near future, particularly with Green.
“Yea I dunno, I’m feeling a Dallas scent,” Simmons said. “There’s some Dallas stuff that feels scenty to me. (Draymond) is kind of what they need. Someone who cares about defense, and doesn’t care about shooting.”
As for James, Simmons believes much of his future decision will come down to where his son, Bronny, commits to play college basketball.
The younger James is currently deciding between USC, which of course is in Los Angeles, Ohio State, and Oregon.
And should Bronny chose anything but USC, Simmons believes LeBron James will be on the move.
“I also think Bronny hasn’t picked a college yet, and that’s going to factor into the LeBron possibilities too," Simmons said. "Because if (Bronny) goes to USC, you think (LeBron) will be a Laker next year, because he’ll want to go to the USC games. But if it’s somewhere outside LA, that’s gonna make me think."
But why would LeBron want to leave LA in the first place?
According to Simmons, James wants a fifth championship ring, and Doncic might be the guy to help him accomplish that goal.
"LeBron is going to want to ring chase at some point soon," Simmons said. "He’s not going to end at four. He knows he wants at least five, and if he feels like this Lakers thing isn’t going to work, he’s going to start ring chasing, and if your ring chasing, you’re making a list of the best five guys in the league, and your glomming on to one of those five. And Luka seems kind of the most ripe to be glommed on to.”
Suffice it to say, if either one, or both of these predictions from Simmons come true, the Mavs could be up for a very interesting offseason this summer.