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Last week, LeBron James selected Kyrie Irving in the 2023 NBA All-Star draft, giving the national media more ammo to push the narrative that Irving will join the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency this summer.

There’s a few problems with that narrative, though — one of which being that James also selected Luka Doncic during the All-Star draft.

If Doncic and Irving are James’ two favorite players in the league, wouldn’t it make more sense for him to want to team up with them in Dallas rather than play with one of them in LA on a worse team?

As the Mavs and Lakers share the floor in a Sunday mantises on national TV, we wonder …

If James’ goal — and Irving’s goal, too, for that matter — is to win another championship before his illustrious career is over, those chances would be much higher if he was part of a Big 3 in Dallas rather than a duo with Irving in LA that would most likely cost more roster assets to make possible.

Aside from the competitive aspect of these hypotheticals, there’s another big category that the national media is ignoring when it comes to Irving’s future — money.

The Mavs have Irving’s Bird Rights, which means that they can offer him a five-year max contract and other teams can only offer him a four-year deal. As a 30-year-old point guard with an injury history, do people really think he’s going to pass on a five-year contract that would net him an extra $63 million that other teams can’t offer?

By all accounts, Irving is settling into his new surroundings just fine, as he’s feeling the “genuine” love from the entire organization and its fan base so far. Not only is Irving a great offensive fit with Doncic as a co-star duo, but they seem to enjoy each other’s company off the court as well.

"I've only been around [Luka] for two weeks. But we've had incredible dialogue being at the arena and also being at the practice facility for a little bit, we get to know each other a little bit,” Irving said during All-Star Weekend.

“I'm looking forward to the time that we have after this All-Star Break where we have some home games, we can break some bread with our families, and just really include everybody that's gonna be on this journey with us."

Factor all that into the equation with the money figures, and the path to Irving staying in Dallas for the foreseeable future seems clear. The question is, what kind of immediate future does the NBA’s 38-year-old all-time leading scorer have in mind? More mediocrity in purple and gold, or a true chance at another title in blue and white?

Irving going to Lakers could happen. James coming to the Mavs could happen. Me winning the lottery could happen. Out of all those scenarios, though, the middle one seems more logical and levelheaded than what loud-mouthed talking heads want you to believe.

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