With the start of NBA free agency just around the corner, Kyrie Irving made waves after reports emerged that he reached out to LeBron James about joining the Dallas Mavericks. As everyone knows, the two won a title together with the Cavaliers, and Irving was linked to the LA Lakers before being moved at the trade deadline.
At this moment, Irving is an unrestricted free agent. However, it appears he is trying to bring more star talent to Dallas to pair alongside himself and Luka Doncic.
Given that there are obvious fit concerns, many were shocked this report came out. Because of the clear absurdity of this move, one NBA analyst chimed in on why he thinks this news got leaked.
During a recent appearance on The Herd, Nick Wright gave his thoughts on why Irving did this to secure a big contract from the Mavericks this summer.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic & Dallas Mavericks Updates
I actually think it’s more about Kyrie trying to secure a long-term contract from the Mavericks by showing ‘guys this is how all in I am. I will recruit for you. Maybe we can’t bring LeBron now, but in a year maybe we could.’
Wright could very well be on to something with this thought process. Dating back to last summer, it’s clear that no team is willing to hand Irving a max deal because of injuries and off-the-court issues. Getting news like this out there could help raise his stock as he gets ready to negotiate a new deal with the Mavericks.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic & Dallas Mavericks Updates
Given that Dallas gave up multiple assets to bring Irving in, it’s unlikely they let him walk this summer. That being said, the two sides might have a hard time agreeing on a proper length and price. As one of the biggest names on the market, many will be waiting to see what the Mavericks decide to do in this situation.
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