One Kyrie Irving problem the Mavericks must avoid at all costs…
The Dallas Mavericks traded for Kyrie Irving in 2023 and nobody knew what to expect. There had been a ton of drama in Brooklyn, and the future Hall of Famer was at the center of the Nets’ Big 3 crumbling. There was no questioning Irving’s talent, and his fit concerns vanished after the team’s run to the NBA Finals. The trade looks fantastic for Dallas, and Kyrie has found happiness with the Mavs.
The franchise should be back in the title mix this season. They added Klay Thompson to open more space and made multiple upgrades. Losing Derrick Jones Jr. hurts, but Naji Marshall, Quentin Grimes, and Spencer Dinwiddie should more than replicate his production.
Kyrie is happy now, but will it stay that way? The eight-time All-Star has forced his way out of three other contending situations in his NBA career and a crucial inflection point is on the horizon. Can the Mavericks get ahead of the situation before it becomes a problem?
Kyrie requested a trade out of Cleveland and left Boston in free agency after vowing to sign a long-term deal. His departure from Brooklyn came after the team was unwilling to extend his contract, and it was time to break up. Irving could face a similar situation.
He is set to make $41 million this season and has a $43.9 million player option in the summer of 2025. The 32-year-old is not extension-eligible, but the two sides will have talks. Dallas must keep Kyrie’s focus on helping Luka Doncic win a championship. The Mavs need to keep Irving long-term. They were close to winning it all last season and number 77 has still not reached his peak.
Irving has interest in playing with LeBron again and went to Brooklyn to team with Kevin Durant. The eight-time All-Star is no stranger to joining up with star talent. The Mavs must avoid being his fourth jilted franchise by doing everything possible to keep him happy.
Kyrie Irving will demand a massive contract next summer. The Dallas Mavericks must be ready to pay up. This could be the last gigantic deal for the future Hall of Famer, and he already helped Dallas reach the NBA Finals. The last thing the franchise wants is to be searching for another co-star to assist a prime Luka Doncic.
There have been no cracks yet, but Kyrie is no stranger to quickly changing his mind. He left the Celtics less than a year after his pledge to the organization. The Mavs cannot afford a repeat and must do whatever is necessary to avoid it.
