Kyrie Irving Trade: 'Persona' Problem with Luka Doncic? Mavs Aren’t Dumb
DALLAS - Listen, we get it.
When you are the Dallas Mavericks (and you are owner Mark Cuban) and you've spent the last quarter century overseeing - and to be fair, help make possible - the passing of the torch from Dirk Nowitzki to Luka Doncic?
There is a standard of quality that you both wish to uphold ...
And are spoiled by.
And now along comes the opportunity to trade for Kyrie Irving, who is controversial, no doubt, with the leaked reason for possibly passing on the embattled All-Star being that he and Doncic have "drastically different off-court personas''?
That's the reason?
That's the standard?
That's being spoiled.
How special is Luka? He's 23 and we can already project that someday, after LeBron James passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar next week as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, Luka Doncic, just 23, might surpass him.
Dirk never demanded a trade. Never whined for more touches. Never slipped off to Cabo before a playoff series. Never blamed selfish, angry behavior on “passion.”
And yes, it would be nice if Kyrie Irving would come to Dallas and be exactly like Dirk. Or exactly like Luka.
But ... "he has a different personality than Luka''?! That's a reason?
There are contractual issues here and there is the price of the trade and there are the risks, and finding a "compatible long-term locker room fit'' alongside Doncic is always on the list of concerns with any major acquisition.
But putting aside what sources tell DallasBasketball.com is Irving's true behind-the-scenes locker-room "persona'' (stay tuned for that story, which apparently the Mavs themselves would be wise to read) ... Since when did "locker-room personas'' stop Cuban and company from trying to get better?
Did Kristaps Porzingis "fit'' with Luka in the locker room? Going way back, did Dennis Rodman, Vernon Maxwell, Tim Thomas, Lamar Odom, Delonte West and almost countless other additions "fit'' with Dirk?
And by the way, if it's all about personality "fit,'' why is Jalen Brunson in New York? Why were Steve Nash and then Tyson Chandler ever allowed to leave?
The door of contention in the West is ajar. The Mavs have an opportunity to strut through it with the help of a gifted goofball. That's why you trade for Kyrie Irving.
Or ... you can wait for the next guy who shares an "off-court persona'' with the likes of Dirk and Luka. Which means you'll be waiting forever.
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