The Lakers have long been linked to guard Kyrie Irving, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The eight-time All-Star sat courtside for Game 6 on Friday as the Lakers advanced to the second round and congratulated former teammate LeBron James in the arena tunnel after the game, writes Tim Cato of The Athletic (it’s worth noting Irving also sat courtside for Sunday’s Game 7 between Golden State and Sacramento).
Despite his obvious ties to James and Los Angeles’ previously rumored interest in Irving, the team doesn’t plan to pursue him in free agency, sources tell Cato. As Cato notes, the Lakers would have to shed several salaries — including multiple players they traded for that helped turn their season around — to create enough cap room to try and sign Irving.
The Mavericks, meanwhile, are still optimistic about their chances of re-signing Irving, and rival teams believe that’s the most likely outcome as well, according to Cato’s sources.
As Cato details, it was, by all accounts, an unpleasant season for Dallas. After reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2021/22, the Mavs regressed and went 38-44, missing the playoffs (and the play-in tournament). “I’m glad it’s over,” an unnamed player said before the final game of the season.
Cato points to the Mavericks’ inability to retain Jalen Brunson as the pivot point in their decline. Brunson has said multiple times he hoped to remain with Dallas, while owner Mark Cuban blamed Brunson’s father Rick for the guard’s departure.
Cuban recently claimed Brunson’s side never gave the Mavs an offer he would accept in free agency, but a team source tells Cato that Brunson’s agents did reach out to the Mavs to inquire about a potential offer, only to be told that it would be revealed at a meeting, which was ultimately cancelled.
Either way, it’s clear that the Mavs didn’t value Brunson as much as the Knicks did, and the Mavericks were left to pick up the pieces.
One acquisition Dallas seemed to sour on throughout the season was big man Christian Wood, another unrestricted free agent who is not expected to be brought back, according to Cato.
Cato’s story features several more details on the Mavericks’ “season of misery” and their potential offseason plans, and is worth checking out in full for readers who subscribe to The Athletic.
KI to Clipps
That was the first team that I thought of
Clippers are so far over the cap they couldnt sign an 8th grader
Everybody already knows that. Kyrie wants a 5-year, maximum contract and nothing less. He has been clear about that which led to Brooklyn agreeing to his trade request.
Dallas traded for Kyrie with the full intention of giving him a 5-year, max deal. Nobody else was interested in doing that. Nobody new will become interested in giving Kyrie a max after the disaster run in Dallas.
Lakers don’t need Irving. Austin Reaves would be better than Irving after 3 years
Lakers are 12-man depth, scary!
9. Bomba
10. Walker
11. Brown
12. Gabrief
That scares no one.
I’m a die hard Duke fan and I love me some Kyrie Irving!!!!! He’s a special talent and one of the most gifted players and Point Guards I’ve ever seen. I would love to see him on the Los Angeles Lakers with LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
I don’t think it’s happening. Dallas Mavericks will do everything in their power to not let him get away.
Free agency has been dead for several years, at least for star players. Brunson was an exception, and one that upon inspection of the details proves the rule.
KI will re-up with DAL. Silly for LAL to plan anything regarding him this offseason when they wouldn’t have the cap space to do it even if they walked from all their current FAs, which, of course, they aren’t doing. KI will resign with DAL because he easily can. Then, if its a poor fit (something both parties pretty much know already), there will be a trade demand and the nonsense will proceed from there. It’s a horrible system of player movement for the league, but the PTB want it this way, and Silver hasn’t the will to do anything about it.
Its why I was so disappointed on what the New Cba didnt do
The system has been cracked by the players many years ago, Silver had a chance to re-correct and chose to do nothing….
Whoes this system helping right now besides quasi stars? Its hurting small market teams like Mil Den moving forward, the fans are going to be irate once they find out the (*Bobby Portis) MLE is going away soon, small market loses, big market loses ….I guess the tankers get another small V as they can use the cap to just take in more crap for prospect capital…but those arent always small market…as most remember Knicks/Lakers were the worst teams of last decade
Silver is dead set on creating NFL parity here and nobody wins with that Imo – Frustrating, the “small guy” doesn’t even want help these days they wanna go into the dark shadows and collect ping pong balls ; sad
Me too (disappointed, not surprised). I’m not sure any group of teams really benefit from it. But like most things in the CBA, it’s the preference of the “small market owners” – they’re not too sharp as a group even in looking out for themselves, but they seem to hate free agency, believing they’re not a destination. It wouldn’t be the first time this group cost themselves money by trying to hurt the big market teams. Players might benefit, or think they do. They appear to lose freedom of movement, but in reality they are being paid (with more $$ and sooner, i.e., security) to give it up. It does hurt the player who actually waits it out and becomes a free agent, because he’ll find litter cap space among his natural bidders.
Teams that game the system (tankers, etc.) can always sometimes benefit. But at the expense of the league’s product, that they’re already under contributing to. Any way, it’s the most inefficient system of player movement ever devised. I guess cause it was backed into. GMs and the fans who play them on message boards can’t like it (having to worry about the guys that just signed demanding a trade like they’re exercising an option).
I think the realization for the common fan will come when Mil/Den needs a Portis/Bowen as the last piece and finds out that’s no longer an option and they are trapped in purgatory
Same with Cle who needs that 1 wing and wont even be able to afford a LaVert type player to fill the role
The whole thing just screams NFL where they want 32 teams fanbases given a shot week 1 . Oddly theres less tanking in football than basketball even w no lottery balls attached- I don’t think it crosses over well to the NBA
If they wanted to curtail the Balmer/Lacobs they could have just put a top/max line in that moves with inflation – Something like 205 mill next year ect .
They want the NFL level parity, but without NFL level player movement and annual payroll adjustments.
Basketball, compared to other sports, is so much more about the top of a team’s roster (starting with its best player) and produces so many fewer elite prospects, who reveal themselves so much earlier. The NBA magnified this with Stern’s emphasis on marketing stars, and of course a game that had to confirm that marketing. Even prior to that, though, the NBA draft was never strict reverse standings. Territorial picks, coin flip between east-west, etc.
You see little tidbits of possible late season tanking in the NFL, though only around a generational QB prospect (like Trevor Lawrence). Though, even those guys flame out at a much higher rate than generational basketball talents. Harder to do from the FO, which is where NBA tanking really happens.
A lack of free agency is, among other things, another incentive for tanking. Draft and trades are all that’s left. If you’re a good team, the draft is pretty much out. So, its the trade market. No wonder its gone nuts, where you have to relinquish all your assets to get even a flawed star. So, you better have a star on board prior to it, if you want 2, to really compete for a title that is.
It will change when it hurts $$, or when big market teams rebel, or if they get a real commissioner; all those tend to happen together, unfortunately.
Mavs have no choice but to sign him.
I would run him out the league. Why would anyone want to play with this airhead ….
Exactly, he cant even win without Lebron. Just another one of “those” types.
You mean lebron cannot survive without all these guys
Thank god. That’s going to be one the worst contracts ever.
Kyrie ain’t playing for a California team, his “beliefs” (all lies, all stupidity) will prevent him.
Lakers waiting for Jaylen Brown.
Ahaha.
Ok.
Good.
Only Mark Cuban would sign KI but not have enough money for Steve Nash!
So many poor decisions by Mark from Cuba over the years… He lucked into that championship winning roster then blew up the roster the very next season…
I would say KI to Houston Rockets seemed at first, bad decision because of Green, KPJ, Christopher, etc etc. On second thought, you question how much faith the Rockets have of Jalen Green. Kid can score at times, and other times, can’t make the key shot for the life of him. On a scale 1 to 5, I think Green is around a 3 overall. His defensive side is something you can’t stand to watch and makes you sick. But again, KI isn’t much better defensively but slightly better shooter. It’s 50-50 and probably 2 people, play the same style. One aged, one is still young.
Rockets have cap room, I am curious on what free agents they look at this offseason. A veteran big man could be serviceable. So could a defensive guard to sub in for Green as needed to shut down opposing teams offense. I will be watching what the rockets do this offseason and quite excited about the idea of adding a veteran big man
Very healthy C market ironically in a pretty stinky free agency overall- Idk tho really like Sengun
No room in the locker room for the egos.
The only person in the NBA that is dumb enough to pay Kyrie a max is Mark from Cuba…
Kyrie is one helluva basketball talent. Clearly, one of the best players in the world. His skillset is pretty much unmatched by 99% of the league.
If I was a GM, I wouldn’t let him anywhere near my team or lockerroom.