Kyrie Irving met with Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison and expressed his gratitude for how he was treated by the organization. Harrison, in turn, told the media on Tuesday that re-signing Irving is the organization’s top priority this offseason, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
“I think the things that he said along the way about how he feels here, how he feels appreciated, how he feels accepted and allowed to be himself — those are the things that he said kind of consistently,” Harrison said. “That’s what gives me the optimism that he wants to be here.”
The Mavs went 7-18 after the blockbuster trade with the Nets that sent Irving to Dallas and dropped out of the playoff race. They had an 5-11 record when both Irving and Luka Doncic played.
Yet Harrison insists they can thrive in the long-term.
“I think Luka and Kai work together,” he said. “I think when we have that talented of a player — that talented of two players — I think they work together. I really think it’s the players around them … kind of knowing their role with having those two guys out on the floor at the same time. I think that’s the thing that we need to work on.”
Irving declined to meet with the media after the season.
Whether Dallas will offer Irving a maximum contract, or something close to it, remains to be seen. He is eligible for a five-year, $272MM contract with the Mavericks or a four-year, $201.7MM deal with another team.
Doncic told the media he wants to the organization to re-sign Irving. The Mavs have some internal concerns about whether Doncic might request a trade next offseason if the team doesn’t show significant progress in 2023/24, sources within the organization have told MacMahon.
Harrison says it’s his responsibility to make sure Doncic doesn’t feel the need to request a trade.
“He’s under contract, so I don’t go to sleep at night worried about, ‘Is Luka going to be a Maverick?’ Because he is a Maverick, and he’s under contract. Obviously, if that changes, then we’ll have to reevaluate it,” Harrison said. “But I think our job really to keep Luka happy, if you will, is surrounding him by the right players to help him win.”
That’s too bad.
He’s not signing in LA. Too close to the edge of the world.
If the Mavs were smart they would let him go to where ever and take the cap space and the lottery pick. Because the Mavs FO are stupid, I doubt they will find a suitable sign and trade. Perhaps they are exploring one and this is a smoke screen, but I doubt it because there stupid.
Calling someone stupid then saying “there stupid”… priceless
Sorry on my phone, “they’re stupid”. Is that better grammar police? Do you get a boost in your pay every-time you catch someone?
Nah just a small boost to a fragile ego…
Why would the Mavs resign him? Outside of the Cavs every team he has played for has gotten progressively worse with him on the roster.
“I think it’s a great fit,” Doncic said. “Obviously people are going to say no, look at the results we’re having. But like I said, chemistry, relationships take time. And I wish he can still be here. He’s a great player. He just wants peace. And a great person.” -Luka Doncic.
Luka is the reason they want to keep Kyrie, even if everyone can already see it being a monumental mistake. Dallas is going to do the same thing Brooklyn did when Brooklyn took on Kyrie to appease KD. They’re just going to have to hope that in 2-3 years some team is as foolish as they were, and they bail them out the same way Dallas bailed out Brooklyn.
On court performance aside if things go nuclear off the court with Kyrie again there’s no chance any team bails Dallas out.
Are you in a big rush to sign Kyrie long term if you’re Dallas, with how bad they played with him, even when he and Luka played together?
To me, considering the inevitable drama and headaches, I would have needed Luka and Kyrie to go like 14-2 together to make me even consider it. They went 5-11 together
If I’m Dallas I am ringing EVERY team to see what bad contracts I’d have to take to make a sign and trade work…
Doesn’t matter how bad they are, if another team is dumb enough to take Kyrie it’s a win for Dallas…
Or, they can just simply let him go and forgo taking on bad contracts. Chances are the return will be minimal and the cost not worthy, nor doing themselves any favors if they want to keep Doncic happy.
The Kai/Luka works on offense. We traded our defense and didn’t have a rim protector beofre the trade. They need a defensive wing and a defensive center (Myles)
There’s actually no other place for him to go. He has to resign with the Mavs if he wants to get paid. Unless there’s some kind of sign and trade with a team who gives up a 40 million or 30 million player?
What about Houston? Utah?
He won’t set foot in California, not with his “big brain” *eyeroll*
I suspect Ainge wouldn’t want to revisit that again in Utah.
A sign and trade is the only option for him to get that money elsewhere…
And with the league getting smarter and Kyrie doing nothing to convince people he can be more reliable… I will be very surprised anything gets done on that front…
But I’d take the worst contracts back just to get off of Kyrie and be able to do something with that space…
I don’t think you understand how this all works Scarlette
Sounds good to me. 4 years almost 200 million.
Hahahahah.
Almost as good as the Lillard and Beal contracts.
Hahahahahaha.
Can’t understand how Harrison stays in charge.
Dallas went to the conference finals last year, and they had Brunson. They since let him leave and while competing in the playoffs gave up Dinwiddie and DFS for Kyrie and ended up tanking to miss the playoffs. They went 7-18 since trading for Kyrie and when asked he starts off by saying I think he and Luka work together.
It makes no sense.
Brunson has since gone on to be an all star and should make all nba this year. Dinwiddie and DFS have helped the nets remain being a playoff side. While you’ve gone from the conference finals to not even in the play in. Someone needs to be held accountable.
If I’m Kyrie, I do appreciate how I’ve been treated after not being comfortable on previous teams. But you can’t commit to a side that went 7-18 since you arrived and actively tried to lose to not make the playoffs. He’s obviously going to be going for big money but there’s so many other teams which would be great fits for him. Lakers and Heat as the two standout options personally. Maybe even Philly could be a great spot.
Harrison made a mistake when they didn’t extend Brunson before last season (before Brunson was an everyday starter) but they didn’t just let Brunson leave. Once Brunson became an everyday starter and shined it was over. Brunson would be averaging 16 to 17 PPG (and that’s generous) if he was still on the Mavs. The offense would have still been Luka and whoever was hot that day. Brunson wanted a bigger role the Mavs were not able to provide him.
Disagree, I don’t think Brunson would be playing at the same level as he is now but he’d be better than 16-17 points and a small role.
He averaged 16 points in his last season as a Mav, that’s having started the year as the sixth man and finishing a starter. In his last 18 games for the Mavs in the playoffs he averaged 21.5. Now for the Knicks he’s averaging 24.
As of right now Kyrie is basically doing what Brunson did last year and he’s averaging 27 on slightly better efficiency. Had he stayed he would’ve averaged just over 20.
The Mavs gave up Dinwiddie DFS a first and 2 second for Kyrie. Had they kept Brunson they could’ve given up the some package of picks and 12 mil in contracts (Powell) for Jakob Poeltl considering that’s what Toronto gave up for him.
Then imagine
Brunson Luka THJ DFS Poeltl
Dinwiddie Hardy/Green Bullock Kleber Wood
Basically the same team which when to the conference finals last year plus Poeltl to lock down the 5 spot. Now they are facing the proposition of losing both Kyrie and Wood for nothing and having missed the playoffs this year
Maybe the Mavericks want the cap room and will go for some other guys? Maybe they think the new guys would be an improvement over Dinwiddie and whoever else they traded for kyrie.
They gave up Dinwiddie DFS a unprotected first and 2 seconds for Kyrie.
So your giving up 2 good role players, an unprotected first and 2 seconds for cap space?
It’s clearly not for cap space they did it to go all in on Kyrie. Basically he was the cheapest supercar on the market. They clearly under valued what Dinwiddie and DFS did for them having been a good playoff side and then going 7-18 after the trade.
No matter how you cut it, it was a terrible bit of management by the GM
Mark from Cuba…
His penny pinching and meddling with decisions are more to blame than Harrison…
Mark from Cuba probably like how Harrison sucks up to him… So he’ll stay around… He kept a lot of people despite workplace relations issues…
Idk he definitely is a very involved owner but over the years Dallas has always been a good side under him. The players often really like him and he’s had some success. I think he must defiantly have a soft spot for personal relationships with people having hired Jason Kidd a former player, keeping his Harrison joker around, etc etc
I don’t think he’s the worst owner or even a particularly bad one. He just wants success which makes pressure to preform (hence maybe the decision to go all in on Kyrie) but when your fail to deliver then you need to be let go I believe.
Whatever the Mavs are smoking, it must be great for hallucinating…
There’s no one else with a clean mind and a solid plan for their team that would be optimistic about the prospect of signing Kyrie…
Mavs are a dumpster fire from top down… Luka needs to get out fast…
#FreeLuka
Honestly, a Sign & Trade may be the only solution.
2-yrs 70M for Beasley, Bamba, and Vanderbilt.
Probably makes a lot of sense for both teams b/c it fills needs at the Forward position for the Mavs and they can flip Bertans and the #10 pick for a better wing option. Also gives them flex to sign or not re-sign Wood and Powell. Heck they could do another S&T involving Wood (Nurkic?).
Luka – Beasley – THJ –
Lakers get that true playmaker. Takes pressure off of DLo, who they likely re-up. 2-years lets them keep flex with Kyrie – and (I think you can do a 1+1?). They will have some work cut out for them to replace the frontcourt though. Looking at vet min guys/mid level. K-Love, Len, Rob Lopez, Blake, Biyombo, Frank the Tank, Bryant, Dedmon, Boogie…. not a great selection.
Jeanie is not going Ballmer/Lacob on the ledger