Luka Doncic Claims Kyrie Irving is His Ideal Mavs Co-Star; Dallas in Free Agency Driver's Seat?
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Despite the seemingly-endless speculation regarding the idea of Kyrie Irving potentially joining the Los Angeles Lakers or some team other than the Dallas Mavericks in free agency, there's a good chance Irving stays in Dallas if things keep trending the way they have been.
That's due to three big reasons:
1) The Mavs can pay Irving up to $70 million more than any other team since they have his Bird Rights and can offer a fifth year.
2) Irving seems has felt nothing but genuine warm welcomes since arriving in Dallas and has preexisting relationships with Mavs GM Nico Harrison and coach Jason Kidd. He has also stated that he's in a "balanced place" in his career."
"Though my journey has not been perfect, I’ve been through some crazy situations based on things I’ve done or things that I’ve said. I believe those situations are avoidable now because I’m in a balanced place: emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically. It’s all been something I’ve been able to learn and I’m grateful for that," Irving told Dallas Weekly's Shad Miller.
3) Luka Doncic loves playing alongside Irving, and on Thursday night after the duo erupted for 82 points in a big win over the Philadelphia 76ers, he went as far as saying he'd pick Irving to play with over anyone else if given the opportunity.
“He was great, he had 40 (points)," Doncic said. "I mean not just today, he’s been great since the trade. Like I said, we gotta get stops, and playing with Kai [Kyrie Irving] is so easy, so it helps me a lot. So it’s way easier.
"It’s unbelievable the things he does on the court, some movements I have never seen in my life. I think if I would have to play with somebody it would be him for sure, because those movements and shots are incredible.”
Through eight games played with the Mavs, Irving is averaging 26.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 52 percent from the field, 42.6 percent from deep and 91.2 percent from the free-throw line. With that kind of production alongside Doncic's league-leading 33.4 points per game, the Mavs will have a chance against any team in a seven-game series come April.
Yes, the Mavs got off to a rocky start in the immediate aftermath of the blockbuster trade that happened a month ago. Yes, it's nearly impossible to predict Irving's next move based on how certain situations have gone in his past. But Doncic wants Irving to stick around for a while and meshes well with him, and that, paired with the large amount of money Dallas can throw Irving's way, counts for a lot ahead of what should be a busy summer.
Before we get to all of that, though, the Mavs still have a playoff push to attend to. With Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and the star-studded Phoenix Suns set to meet the Mavs at American Airlines Center on Sunday afternoon, Doncic and Irving will try to ride the momentum they created in their latest win against Philadelphia.
Dallas is 33-31, just two games behind fourth-seeded Suns for home-court advantage, but also just two games ahead of the 10-seeded New Orleans Pelicans.
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