The Dallas Mavericks have a big task this offseason: to keep Kyrie Irving on the roster. After dealing a host of players for the disgruntled Brooklyn Nets star, the Mavs are ready to retain Irving beyond this season.
A lot has been said about this, with Irving being mentioned among potential targets for the Los Angeles Lakers and, previously, the Phoenix Suns. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has opened up on his intentions with Irving, making it clear the team is all in to bring Kyrie back.
“We want to sign him, and hopefully, he wants to come back. I’m not going to handicap anymore. I learned my lesson last year,” Cuban said on 97.1 The Freak, via Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News.
Mark Cuban on @971TheFreak on Kyrie Irving's free agency: "We want to sign him, and hopefully he wants to come back. I'm not going to handicap anymore. I learned my lesson last year."
— Callie Caplan (@CallieCaplan) June 22, 2023
After missing out on Jalen Brunson last offseason and seeing him join the New York Knicks, Cuban knows they can’t afford to lose another high-profile name in free agency.
Even before the 2022-23 NBA season finished, the Mavericks made re-signing Kyrie one of their top priorities, and following their disappointing ending, Cuban made it clear the team had one big move in mind.
Irving posted solid numbers during his short stint with the Mavericks, averaging 27.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds. He formed a big duo with Luka Doncic on the offensive side, but their defensive struggles hurt the Mavericks during that run.
In those 20 games, Irving posted an 8-12 record, sparking many doubts about his fit with the Slovenian point guard.
Mark Cuban Got To Know The Real Kyrie Irving During The 2022-23 NBA Season
Still, the Mavericks are confident that he can work with Doncic. They are still trying to build around the talented guard while working to keep Kyrie Irving on the roster. The 2016 NBA champion isn’t the best defender of all, and the Mavs will focus on landing pieces that can make up for Doncic and Irving’s shortcomings.
Cuban met the real Kyrie Irving this campaign, and he wants to keep building his relationship with the point guard. It won’t be easy, as many teams could make a run for Kyrie, who is eligible to get a five-year deal worth up to $272.9 million with the Mavs, or if another team can lure him away from Dallas.
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