The Dallas Mavericks are officially the winners of the Kyrie Irving trade sweepstakes.
The Brooklyn Nets superstar guard stunned the NBA world this week when it was revealed that he had officially requested a trade out of New York. The demand for an escape from the Empire State came after Irving’s representatives pushed for a contract extension so the seven-time All-Star could remain in Brooklyn long-term.
However, the franchise reportedly came back with an offer that was not to his liking and it placed a game-changer talent on the block just days ahead of the Feb. 9 NBA trade deadline. After the news broke, the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, and Los Angeles Clippers were all viewed as serious contenders in the Kyrie Irving trade chase.
Also Read: Knicks and Jazz reportedly in talks for blockbuster multi-player trade
On Sunday, The Athletic’s NBA insider Shams Charania was the first to report the stunning news that Irving is actually being shipped off to Texas in a blockbuster deal that will send the Nets “Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a first-round and multiple second-round picks.”
What the Kyrie Irving trade means for the Dallas Mavericks
Kyrie Irving bringing his talents to Dallas is a massive acquisition for the Mavericks. The team is currently sitting in the sixth spot in the Western Conference and only two games over .500 with a record of 28-26. Losing star guard Jalen Brunson in free agency to the New York Knicks this summer was a tremendous hit to their roster, and it has shown in their play in 2022-2023.
Brunson and MVP candidate Luka Doncic formed a fantastic tandem last season that helped the Dallas Mavericks shockingly reach the conference finals, where they fell to eventual NBA Champions the Golden State Warriors.
Now, Irving — a far better player than Brunson — can fill a similar role as another gifted ball handler who is just as fantastic a scorer as the talented Slovenian. The move also keeps the team’s incumbent star happy after he reportedly pushed the front office in recent weeks to get him some high-level help for the stretch run of the season.
Kyrie Irving’s future after this season
As mentioned above, the desire to sign a new long-term contract — preferably a max deal — is what brought another tumultuous run with an NBA team to an end for the one-time NBA champion. Understandably, the Nets were hesitant to invest several more years and top-shelf money in a player that has shown a lack of dedication to their organization and championship cause the last three years.
Reports over the last few days suggested that Irving would desire a trade to a team that would likely lock him into the max deal he is searching for. It remains to be seen if the Dallas Mavericks will do so, however, in a time where superstar talents leave franchises all the time, it would behoove the team to show Doncic they are making an effort to win a championship and not wasting some of his best seasons.
Irving has many negatives connected to him, but there is a very good chance Dallas gives him the max deal he wants, despite the serious risks. Especially if the combo can be an even more dynamic duo than Doncic and Brunson were in 2021-2022. And as long as Irving can stay healthy — one of the biggest problems in his mercurial career — they certainly can be.