The Mavericks will go after Kyrie Irving in free agency.
According to Tim Cato of The Athletic, the Dallas Mavericks have no intention of assisting any other team in acquiring NBA All-Star guard Kyrie Irving.
This summer, Irving will be an unrestricted free agent. If Irving decides to leave the Mavericks, Dallas could do a sign-and-trade with the team he joins.
"It takes tact, but the Mavericks should simply tell Irving upfront what contract they want him to re-sign, and while he certainly has the right to leave, they do not intend to assist any other team in acquiring him," Cato wrote. "They have the most attractive offer." It's another question of whether it's wise to stake this team's future on Irving. However, by trading for him, it appears that this team's path forward is to re-sign him."
Cato believes the Mavericks should not assist Irving in his pursuit of the Los Angeles Lakers, a team to which the All-Star guard has been heavily linked.
"Unless the Lakers somehow make Austin Reaves available in a return sign-and-trade or decide they're willing to trade Anthony Davis — which they won't — there's really no reason for the Mavericks to assist Los Angeles if Irving chooses to sign there," Cato wrote. "Especially not if D'Angelo Russell is the consolation prize."
Assuming the NBA has a salary cap of $134 million, Irving would be eligible to re-sign with the Mavericks on a five-year, $272 million deal. In 20 games with Dallas this season, the Duke product averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.0 assists.
"I hear he's returning to Dallas on a 3+1 [a fourth-year player option]." His contract will be [identical] to Luka's." According to one player agent, Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.
