Mavs Have 'Grand Plans' to Keep Kyrie Irving, Build Around Luka Doncic
DALLAS — After a disappointing 38-44 season, the Dallas Mavericks must take the necessary measures to improve the roster around Luka Doncic. Before that can transpire, re-signing impending free agent Kyrie Irving is vital.
"I think the things that [Kyrie Irving] 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," Mavs general manager Nico Harrison said of Irving during his media exit interview. "That's what gives me the optimism that he wants to be here."
Irving is eligible to sign a contract worth up to $272 million over five years if he was to re-sign with the Mavs. He expressed on Instagram Live on Wednesday that he has yet to make a decision regarding his NBA future and will be in no rush to pick his team for the 2023-24 season.
"I'm a free agent this summer, but I am in no rush to make a decision," Irving said on his Instagram Live from Wednesday. "When [these media personalities] speak on my name and they're talking about potential teams that I'm going to, can y'all please — I respectfully, I'm asking you — stop paying attention to that."
The Mavs will operate with the idea of having Doncic and Irving as a tandem until given reason to make moves otherwise. The focus will be placed on addressing what proved to be a poor defensive roster around their two superstars. Dallas gave up a staggering 116.1 points per 100 possession (25th) on the season.
“I think Luka and Kyrie work together. I think it’s the players around them. … That’s the part we need to work on,” Harrison said.
On ESPN's "Get Up" show, NBA insider Brian Windhorst spoke about the Mavs having "grand plans" to keep Irving and to continue adding talent around Doncic. He also spoke about the Los Angeles Lakers' possible pursuit of Irving in free agency.
"The Dallas Mavericks have grand plans this offseason to make a major splash and try to keep Kyrie [Irving] and add to what's going on around Luka Doncic," Windhorst said. "The Mavericks are under some pressure to do something, and they have the No. 10 pick in the draft to use to facilitate it."
It remains to be seen what is included in "grand plans" for the Mavs' potential use of the 10th pick. With the team facing pressure to win immediately, the natural inclination would be to explore trade avenues using the pick as opposed to bringing in a rookie. However, an increasingly restrictive Collective Bargaining Agreement will come into effect soon — making it more advantageous to have impactful players signed to cheaper contracts.
"I was going to ask you to give me the trade speculation, so maybe I add it to my board," Harrison told DallasBasketball.com. "I don't know anything about the trade rumors. We got to look at every possible scenario, so we'll do that for sure."
There will be many teams with more valuable draft picks open for business in the trade market this offseason — potentially competing with the Mavs' use of the 10th pick in negotiations. However, selecting 10th overall leaves a wide-range of possible outcomes for how the draft may unfold by the time they are on the clock.
Whether the Mavs trade the 10th pick or hang onto it to select a prospect, there will risk involved with either outcome. There will be a necessary balancing of short-term team success and long-term financial viability required. What transpires this offseason will be a massive factor in how it all plays out.
After having tanked the final two games of the season, there will naturally be added attention placed on the Mavs' use of the 10th pick. It's easier said than done, but whatever the outcome, they cannot afford for it to be a negative one.
Grant Afseth is a Dallas Mavericks reporter for DallasBasketball.com and an NBA reporter for NBA Analysis Network. He previously covered the Indiana Pacers and NBA for CNHI's Kokomo Tribune and various NBA teams for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. Follow him on Twitter (@grantafseth), Facebook (@grantgafseth), and YouTube (@grantafseth).
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Mavericks? Click Here. Follow DallasBasketball.com on Twitter and Facebook.
