Despite boasting two top 30 players in the NBA, the Dallas Mavericks couldn’t rally together to reach the postseason. Kyrie Irving is set for free agency after playing in just 20 games with the organization, and Luka Doncic recently spoke of never being more frustrated in his NBA career.
While the two situations may be unrelated, it’s clear the Mavericks’ face of the franchise isn’t satisfied with missing the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season in 2018. Some have even wondered if Doncic could eventually request a trade, possibly as soon as the summer of 2024.
Yet, when Doncic had a chance to speak to the media on Sunday, he squashed any suggestion that the Mavericks should be worried about losing their superstar any time soon.
“I’m happy here, so there’s nothing to worry (about).”
Luka Doncic addresses future with Dallas Mavericks
However, Doncic did admit he wasn’t fond of the team’s decision to aim for keeping their draft pick instead of trying to improve their minuscule chances of reaching the postseason by securing the tenth and final seed necessary to qualify for the Play-In Tournament.
Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving declined to address his pending free agency and avoided doing an exit interview with local media members altogether. Some league executives feel the Mavericks won’t have much trouble retaining Irving this offseason, yet that could depend on how team owner Mark Cuban values the All-Star point guard.
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