With things devolving between Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets, there is a strong sense that his services are up for grabs in the 2022 offseason.
Already, the Lakers, Knicks, and Heat have emerged as potential competitors in the Irving sweepstakes. The Dallas Mavericks may also join the race, as reported by Ric Bucher of FOX Sports.
One Eastern Conference executive suggested that the Dallas Mavericks offer the best fit [for Irving]. The reasons were fairly straightforward: their GM, their coach and their star player.
One of the issues in Brooklyn is Irving’s apparent lack of respect for Steve Nash as a head coach. While both Nash and Jason Kidd had Hall-of-Fame careers as point guards, Kidd has a championship to his credit — as does Irving — while Nash does not. Mavericks first-year GM Nico Harrison apparently already has a strong relationship with Irving from his previous job as vice president of North America basketball operations for Nike, with whom Irving has had a signature shoe.
And then there’s Luka Doncic, the Mavs’ superstar playmaker. “With Luka, Kyrie doesn’t have to be your best player,” the rival GM said. “He doesn’t have to lead. But they do need a second scorer, and he can do that.”
Irving seems to have close ties to several people within the Mavericks organization, including head coach Jason Kidd who reportedly has Irving’s respect.
Next to Luka Doncic, Kyrie could thrive off open looks and new opportunities to score. In Texas, he could be himself in a climate more agreeable to his positions and opinions.
While the situation with Kyrie is still unknown, there is no doubt that several teams will be on the hunt for Kyrie. Even after all that he has said and done over the past few years, he remains an extremely valuable player in the NBA.
