The Dallas Mavericks find themselves in a precarious situation after Kyrie Irving suffered a season-ending ACL tear, a devastating blow to their playoff hopes and long-term plans. Despite the injury, NBA Insider Mike Curtis revealed on Run It Back TV that the Mavericks remain committed to keeping Irving in Dallas for the foreseeable future.
“I think the goal is to keep Kyrie in Dallas as long as they can. And I think before the injury he was definitely on track for a max extension. And I think that’s still the case.”
“Even Nico came out with a statement after it was confirmed that Kyrie tore his ACL and he called him the heart and soul of this team. I don’t think you just want to have a guy for a year and risk him leaving, not leaving again, but risk him leaving your free agency the year after. So I think they want to lock him down as soon as they can.”
According to Curtis, the Mavericks want to lock Kyrie Irving ($43,962,963 player option) down as soon as possible with a long-term deal, likely a max extension. Prior to his injury, Irving was playing at an All-Star level, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists while shooting an efficient 47.3% from the field and 40.1% from three-point range.
His offensive production and leadership made him one of Dallas’ most valuable players alongside Anthony Davis.
After Irving’s ACL tear, Mavericks GM Nico Harrison referred to him as the “heart and soul” of the team, signaling their intent to retain him for the long haul. Given Irving’s age—he turns 33 in a few days—securing his future in Dallas is a top priority, especially since Dallas is in win-now mode.
Despite the injury, Irving remains one of the most valuable point guards in the league, and several teams would take a chance on him if he were to opt out. Dallas, however, wants to lock him down before that becomes a possibility.
The Mavericks’ championship window is shrinking, with Anthony Davis at 32 years old and Irving approaching 33. If Dallas wants to justify trading away Luka Doncic, a 26-year-old generational offensive talent, they must compete for a title immediately. Otherwise, the franchise will be left wondering whether sacrificing their young superstar was the right decision.
With Irving likely missing the start of next season, Dallas is expected to search for a temporary replacement at point guard. One possible option could be a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers, who have several guards that might be available.
Beyond Irving’s injury, the Mavericks are dealing with a roster crisis. Injuries have ravaged their squad, leaving them with only seven healthy players available. If any more players go down, the Mavericks could face the possibility of forfeiting games, something no team wants to consider.
Currently, Dallas sits at 33-37, ranking 11th in the Western Conference. They are on the outside looking in when it comes to the play-in tournament, and even if they manage to climb into the 10th seed, they face an uphill battle.
The Mavericks would need to win two play-in games just to secure the eighth seed, where they would face the Oklahoma City Thunder, the best team in the conference. A series against OKC would likely be a quick exit for Dallas.
The Mavericks’ primary focus now is on securing a reliable backup point guard to cover for Irving. In addition, player development will be crucial, as they need to maximize their supporting cast around Davis and Irving while he recovers.
Even though their chances of making the playoffs are slim, the Mavericks must make calculated moves this offseason to ensure they remain competitive. Whether it’s adding a veteran guard or tweaking their roster depth, they must find a way to stay afloat until Irving returns.
Ultimately, the Mavericks have no choice but to double down on their current roster, re-sign Irving, and hope he returns to form. If they fail to win with Davis and Irving in the near future, Dallas could be headed for another major rebuild—one that may set them back for years.
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