All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving becomes an unrestricted free agent on June 30 and the NBA champion plans to meet with the Dallas Mavericks and other teams, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
The expectation, though, is that Irving will re-sign with the Mavericks. It appears Uncle Drew will meet with other teams to create leverage so he can get a max contract from Dallas.
Irving averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 20 games with the Mavericks in 2022-23 after the Brooklyn Nets trade. If the NBA uses a $134 million salary cap, Irving would be eligible to re-sign with Dallas on a lucrative five-year, $272.9 million contract.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wants to re-sign Irving once free agency opens. He doesn’t want to lose Irving like he lost star point guard Jalen Brunson to the New York Knicks last summer.
“We want to sign him and hopefully he wants to come back,” Cuban said on The Ben and Skin Show. “I’m not going to handicap anymore. I learned my lesson last year.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving & Dallas Mavericks Updates
The Mavericks may be the only team interested in signing Irving this offseason, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The Los Angeles Lakers, despite having superstar LeBron James, don’t plan to pursue Irving and the Phoenix Suns can no longer sign Kyrie after acquiring shooting guard Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards.
“League sources say that these developments — especially the latter — have reinforced the notion that the Mavericks appear to be the only confirmed bidder for Irving’s services as the opening bell for 2023 NBA Free Agency at 6 PM ET on June 30 draws near,” Stein wrote.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving & Dallas Mavericks Updates
The Houston Rockets could make a run at Irving if former MVP James Harden stays with the Philadelphia 76ers. However, All-Star point guard Fred VanVleet — who declined his 2023-24 player option with the Toronto Raptors — may rank higher than Irving on the Rockets’ free-agent board.
Irving has career averages of 23.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists. He has made eight All-Star teams and three All-NBA teams. Both Dallas superstar Luka Doncic and head coach Jason Kidd want Irving back next season, league sources told NBA Analysis Network.
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