Mavs Coach Jason Kidd on Re-Signing Kyrie Irving: 'We're Going To Do Everything'
DALLAS — After losing Jalen Brunson in free agency last summer, the Dallas Mavericks face the need to retain another dynamic guard in Kyrie Irving. Brunson is now leading the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Will the Mavs still have Irving paired with Luka Doncic next season?
Irving was traded to the Mavs in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie, a 2029 first-round pick, and multiple second round picks. Despite the move, Dallas finished with a 38-44 record while going 8-12 with Irving. The priority will be to retain Irving and reconfigure the roster
During a recent interview with Rachel Nichols on "Headliners," Mavs coach Jason Kidd was asked about the Mavs' outlook to re-sign Irving in free agency. While the goal is to keep the All-Star guard in Dallas, Kidd respects that Irving has options..
"I think he truly is happy here," Kidd said. I think he wants to be here, but that doesn't guarantee us that he's gonna stay."
"He has the option and the opportunity as a professional to look elsewhere since he is a free agent," Kidd explained. "And I don't want to take that away from him, being a player who was in that situation.
Kidd did express that the Mavs organization will do everything possible to re-sign Irving. It remains to be seen if that translates in terms of a contract offer. He is eligible to sign a five-year, $272.9 million if he re-signs in Dallas.
"We're gonna do everything to keep him," Kidd said. "At the end of the day, it's his decision, but we'll see what that is, but at the end, we hope that we've done everything to make him comfortable and want to be a Mav for life."
There was a pre-existing relationship between Kidd and Irving before the Mavs acquired him via trade. Building on that, Kidd feels there is an understanding he shares with Irving that helps the two to work together effectively on a daily basis.
"We have a relationship prior to us getting him in the trade," Kidd said. The other thing about Kai is it's not always about basketball, but if you don't know that, it could irritate you a little bit because you might just wanna talk basketball. But if you get to know someone first, it makes it easier. But just being honest."
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