Less than two months ago, the Dallas Mavericks paid top dollar (two players and three draft picks) to land the controversial but talented Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets.
Since being acquired, however, Mark Cuban’s team is 8-16, and while the acquisition of the point guard should have made the “Mavs” a contender, Dallas is currently battling for a playoff spot in the NBA Western Association. In fact, with three games to play in the regular season, Luka Doncic and his gang find themselves one game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder and the tenth place giving access to the direct elimination tournament (play-in).
Wednesday, Bleacher Report reported that despite the Mavericks’ interest in retaining Kyrie by offering him a new contract, Kyrie intended to test the free agent market this summer.
The Mavs still plan to re-sign Kyrie despite team’s recent struggles, per @ChrisBHaynes
Irving is eligible for an extension but will go to free agency instead. pic.twitter.com/fGl8l3RmEB
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport)
April 5, 2023
In 19 games with the Texas team, Kyrie played an average of 38 minutes per game, during which he amassed around 27 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists. He is currently in the final year of a four-year, $136 million contract signed in 2019 with Brooklyn.
