Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving is just months away from hitting unrestricted free agency, and nobody knows which way he’s leaning. With the Mavs struggling to win games, some believe he’s as good as gone this offseason.
But according to NBA insider Marc Stein, there are rumblings across the league that Irving actually wants to stay with the Mavericks.
REPORT: “The rumbles have been that [Kyrie] wants to stay [in Dallas].”
(via @TheSteinLine, @BenandSkin) pic.twitter.com/6qmfO0gM6S
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 4, 2023
While the Mavericks have been losing games at an alarming rate, it hasn’t been totally on Irving. In fact, one could say that he has played his role to perfection since arriving to be Luka’s co-star.
So, the Mavericks should make it a top priority to re-sign Irving this summer, and it’s good news for them that he may be open to a deal. But if the Mavs want to have any long-term success with the Luka/Irving duo, they will need to address several flaws both on and off the court.
Even Luka Doncic himself has not been immune from public scrutiny.
How Much Blame Falls On Luka?
Luka has made his frustrations known amid the team’s struggles, but his role as the face and leader of the team has many fans questioning if he’s ready to win at the highest level.
“I don’t have a single negative syllable to utter about Kyrie Irving,” said Stephen A. Smith. “He is not the problem in Dallas. He has brought to Dallas what you brought him to Dallas to do. Luka is the one, dare I say, that has a huge question mark hovering over him, and it’s nothing statistical… Luka gets 41, and they lose the game. Luka’s not only depressed after the game, he looks depressed during the game. You talk about a level of demoralization that has kicked in, this is one of the things I was told before Kyrie Irving ever played a game: ‘we’re gonna find out about Luka as a leader.’ And I don’t recall seeing a player that looked in better shape at the beginning of the season than they look during the season. Luka’s gotten heavier! I haven’t spoken to anybody in Dallas, but there’s something going on. In terms of galvanizing the troops, maximizing potential around him, and leading, he is sorely lacking.”
Needless to say, this offseason will be a crucial one in deciding the fate of the Mavs and their future with Luka. If Irving stays, it gives them a chance to build a true contender.
If he leaves, it might set them back into rebuild mode with Luka somewhere else entirely.
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