A Miami Heat insider has refuted a report from CBS Sports claiming that All-NBA guard Kyrie Irving will meet with the Heat once free agency opens at 6 PM ET on June 30.
Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald is reporting that Irving is not scheduled to meet with the Heat when free agency starts.
The Heat are focused on trading for Portland Trail Blazers superstar point guard Damian Lillard. Even though Miami star small forward Jimmy Butler is close friends with Irving, no one expects the Heat to sign Irving.
Irving is expected to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks. However, it appears the eight-time All-Star is trying to create leverage and receive a max contract from Dallas by meeting with other teams. A few reports have stated that Irving will meet with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks & Miami Heat Updates
The Mavericks are still considered the favorites to re-sign Irving, who is eligible for a five-year, $272 million max contract. The Duke product averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 20 games with Dallas this past season. However, the Mavericks didn’t even qualify for the play-in tournament.
Dallas was just 5-11 in games superstar Luka Doncic and Irving played together. That was the worst winning percentage (.313) for a pair of teammates who were both All-Stars since the ABA-NBA merger in 1976-77, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
Irving has career averages of 23.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Nets and Mavericks. He has made three All-NBA teams. Both Doncic and head coach Jason Kidd want Irving back next season, league sources told NBA Analysis Network.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks & Miami Heat Updates
The Heat are hopeful that Lillard will request a trade from the Blazers so that Hall of Famer Pat Riley can put together a blockbuster trade package for the seven-time All-Star. Lillard and Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo are very close friends.
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