NBA Insider Provides Details on Kyrie Irving Putting on Mavs 'Recruiting Cap'
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The Dallas Mavericks sure do know how to stay in the news despite their season ending prior to the play-in tournament. And for that, all thanks can go to Mavs free agent star guard Kyrie Irving.
On Monday, The Athletic's Shams Charania reported that Irving had reached out to Lakers superstar LeBron James to vet his interest in potentially joining Irving in Dallas.
James, who Irving played three seasons with in Cleveland, winning the 2016 NBA championship, voiced uncertainty on his playing future following the Nuggets' sweep of the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Though with both Irving and James, this report smells like a leverage play for both parties.
On Tuesday, Charania appeared on The Ryen Russillo Podcast, discussing the upcoming NBA offseason, including the Irving's recruitment of James and his assessment of Irving's likelihood to return to the Mavericks this summer.
"I think what this is showing you that clearly he's going out there putting his recruiting cap on, trying to get talent to come to Dallas potentially," Charania said. "I think him and Luka Doncic both want this Mavericks team to get better."
That certainly banks on Irving re-signing with Dallas, which Charania referenced, but the simple fact that Irving is reportedly reaching out to James about becoming a Maverick surely points toward him staying put this summer. Though Charania followed up with stating that it's 'unlikely' James winds leaving Los Angeles, Irving already putting in effort to bring reinforcements to Dallas is a good sign.
As for Irving's free agency, all early speculation points to Irving returning to the Mavs, but as owner Mark Cuban has learned on several occasions throughout the years, you just never know for sure until that ink is dry. The lack of teams with the proper cap space, who are actually viable options for Irving, are slim, which likely only leaves a sign-and-trade as the only way the Mavericks don't retain the eight-time All-Star.
"Everything I've heard in the last several weeks, ever since they made the trade for Kyrie Irving, their number one priority -- they understand it from a salary perspective, from a team perspective -- is bringing back Kyrie Irving," Charania said.
It sure sounds like both Irving and the organization are currently aligned on the desire to continue their partnership. The only real questions that remain, unless Irving flips the script, is for how long and for how much money that partnership will produce.
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